Rising Cubs 目的（とする） to 削減（する） into Reds' NL Central lead
新人 left-hander Andrew Abbott is a big 推論する／理由 the Cincinnati Reds sit 頂上に the 国家の League Central.
However, a July 殺到する has the Chicago Cubs within striking distance of the 分割 lead, even まっただ中に All-星／主役にする 権利-hander Marcus Stroman's 最近の struggles.
Riding a 16-inning scoreless stretch, Abbott 目的（とする）s for a third straight victory when the Reds visit Stroman and Cubs on Monday night in the opener of a four-game series.
Cincinnati is a half-game ahead of Milwaukee, and Abbott (6-2, 1.90 ERA) continues to 向こうずね since making his major league debut on June 5. The left-hander has 耐えるd one rough 遠出 in 10 starts, 許すing six runs and nine 攻撃する，衝突するs in 4 1/3 innings against the Brewers on July 7.
However, he's 産する／生じるd two runs and 11 攻撃する，衝突するs over 20 innings to go 2-1 in three starts since.
Abbott 許すd a run in the fourth inning against the Brewers on July 15, then threw two more scoreless innings in that contest. He followed by 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするing eight innings without a run versus San Francisco and blanked Milwaukee through six of last Tuesday's 4-3 victory, where he 記録，記録的な／記録するd a season-high 113 pitches.
"It always feels good when they 信用 you enough to continue to throw after a 確かな number of pitches," said Abbott, who owns an impressive 0.96 WHIP.
"I think it's just earned over time."
Abbott and the Reds should feel 確信して after taking two of three at the Los Angeles ペテン師. They've also won eight of their last 11 全体にわたる. However, they 直面する a 潜在的に stiff challenge in this now-important 始める，決める with Chicago.
Though the Cubs' eight-game winning streak ended with Sunday's 3-0 loss to St. Louis, they've won eight of their last 10, are 15-7 since July 4 and are four games behind Cincinnati in the Central. Chicago is not playing like the group that was outscored 25-10 while 存在 swept by Cincinnati in a three-game home 始める，決める from May 26-28.
"If we continue to go out and do what we're doing -- play good baseball and rack up 勝利，勝つs -- then good things are going to happen," Cubs 経営者／支配人 David Ross said. "That's all we need to know."
The Cubs have totaled 44 runs while winning five of their last six home games. However, Stroman (10-7, 3.51) is 1-3 with an 8.00 ERA in his last six starts after going 9-4 with a 2.28 ERA in his first 16. The 権利-hander 許すd seven runs and nine 攻撃する，衝突するs in 3 1/3 innings against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday. However, the Cubs 決起大会／結集させるd for a 10-7 勝利，勝つ.
"I've been just 肉親，親類d of struggling a little bit mechanically, タイミング, 速度, rhythm," said Stroman, a 支配する of 貿易（する） 噂するs, though perhaps no longer with Chicago in the postseason 追跡（する）.
Stroman hasn't 直面するd the Reds in 2023 but is 4-1 with a 2.55 ERA in six career starts against them. Chicago gets its first look at another exciting 新人, Elly De La Cruz, who ホームランd for one of his four 攻撃する，衝突するs during Sunday's 9-0 大勝する of the ペテン師.
Fellow Reds 新人 Matt McLain also ホームランd Sunday and is batting .370 with four ホームランs in his last 13 games. However, the Cubs won't see 負傷させるd Cincinnati infielder Jonathan India (foot) after he was placed on the 負傷させるd 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる） on Sunday.
一方／合間, Chicago's Cody Bellinger, no longer on the 貿易（する） market, is hitting .435 with five ホームランs and 16 打点s in his last 16 home games. He's 4-for-9 with a ホームラン and four 打点s versus Cincinnati in 2023.
--Field Level マスコミ
