Cincinnati Reds GET AGGRESSIVE on the Base Paths, STEAL a Win Over Chicago Cubs | Highlights, Recap

The Cincinnati Reds open their final home series of the 2026 season Friday night against the Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET, with Chase Burns taking the mound against Cubs right-hander Clay Holmes.
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For Cincinnati, the final nine games are about finishing a disappointing season on a positive note and getting another look at pieces expected to play major roles in 2027. The Reds enter Friday 71-82 and have dropped eight of their last 10 games. They lost three of four to the Dodgers this week, including an 8-2 defeat Thursday night.

Burns gives Cincinnati an excellent opportunity to begin the weekend with a win. The 23-year-old All-Star enters at 15-3 with a 2.80 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 181 strikeouts. MLB notes that this will be Burns' penultimate start of the season and is expected to be a shortened appearance, with Julian Aguiar expected to follow him. Burns faced Chicago on August 30 and earned the victory after allowing three runs, two earned, across 5 2/3 innings in Cincinnati's 7-5 win at Wrigley Field.

Chicago has considerably more at stake. The Cubs enter 85-68 and remain in the middle of the National League Wild Card race. They arrive in Cincinnati after taking two of three from the Atlanta Braves, including an 8-4 victory Wednesday. Pete Crow-Armstrong had a huge afternoon in that win, going 3-for-4 with two home runs, while Alex Bregman collected three extra-base hits.

Holmes counters Burns with a 6-7 record, 2.85 ERA and 71 strikeouts. The former Mets right-hander was acquired by Chicago at the trade deadline and will make his eighth start for the Cubs. His career numbers against Cincinnati have been considerably less impressive: a 7.97 ERA in 13 appearances, including two starts.

The Cubs have controlled the season series, winning seven of the first 10 meetings, but Cincinnati took two of three at Wrigley Field when these teams last met in late August.

With Burns on the mound, Chicago fighting for postseason positioning and the Reds beginning their final home weekend, Friday's opener offers Cincinnati an opportunity to play spoiler while giving fans one more look at one of the biggest bright spots of the 2026 season.