Cincinnati Reds pitcher Hunter Greene (21) pitches during the second inning of a game between the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday, September 22, 2024, at the Arena in downtown Cincinnati. Held at American Ball Park. Two teams that failed to live up to preseason expectations will end their seasons on Sunday afternoon.
After the Chicago Cubs host the Cincinnati Reds in the final game of a three-game series, both teams will undoubtedly face another long offseason trying to close the holes that have prevented each from making the postseason.
Chicago (83-78) ranks 10th in the majors this season in Baseball America's annual power rankings and is the consensus favorite in the National League Central Region after falling just one game short of a wild-card berth last season. Popular teams.
But despite being nine games over .500 since the All-Star break, the Cubs could never get closer than three games to the final wild-card berth in the second half of the season.
“What we want to do is difficult, and it requires hard decisions, but the things worth doing are also difficult, so here's the thing,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said after the team was eliminated last weekend. What we have to do. “It's going to be difficult. We're not there yet. There are going to be tough decisions to make to get there, but that's the way it has to work.”
Cincinnati (76-85) started the season ranked No. 12 in Baseball America but would end up being one of 13 teams with a record at or below .500.
When the Reds last take the field in 2024, they will have lost five straight and 19 scoreless innings.
Cincinnati, which finished third in the National League Central a year ago and has a two-game winning percentage above .500, will have nothing to gain but try to avoid finishing last in the division.
Cincinnati returned the core of its lineup this season, but center infielder Matt McLain never returned after shoulder surgery in late March, but an eight-game losing streak from April 30 to May 9 Let the Reds' odds drop below .500.
The Reds eventually fired head coach David Bell last Sunday with five games remaining.
Reds right-hander Hunter Green, who will start Sunday's season finale, said the poor season is the result of a combination of fundamental issues and injuries.
“All of these play a key role in success,” he said.
Green said it's important that Cincinnati's next coach is able to be there and hold players accountable.
“Some managers may be pitchers, catchers, infielders or outfielders,” Green said. “Their focus on certain players is different. Maybe it's better for others than it is for the next guy. Guys who can recognize the value they can inject into any player. That's important.”
Green (9-5, 2.83 ERA) will try to win double-digit games for just the second time in his three-year major league career.
The 25-year-old made his first start since his season was interrupted by right elbow soreness in mid-August last Sunday. He only played three innings and allowed one run and two hits in a 2-0 loss to the United States.
Greene has made six career starts against the Cubs and is 4-1 with a 4.54 ERA.
The Cubs are projected to start right-hander Caleb Killian (0-1, 7.94). Killian was recalled from Triple-A Iowa last week and allowed six runs (5 ERA) on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings of relief. This will be his first start of the season.
He made more than seven appearances in three seasons with Chicago but never faced the Reds.
–Scene-level media