Cincinnati Reds (67-93) vs. Chicago Cubs (91-69) September 30, 2017 … Wrigley Field … Game No. 161 … Home Game No. 80 RHP Jackson Stephens (2-0, 3.86) vs. LHP Jon Lester (12-8, 4.46) HOMER HAPPY: The Chicago Cubs, who have clinched the N.L. Central Division for CUBS VS. REDS the second-straight season, today play the second of a three-game regular season- CUBS RECORD ending set against the Cincinnati Reds after coming from behind to win yesterday’s 2017 Overall: .......................................... 91-69 The Cubs and Reds play 19 games, spanning series opener, 5-4 … Ian Happ hit a game-winning three-run homer in the eighth to six series, this season … the Cubs won two of At Wrigley Field: .................................. 47-32 help Chicago to its 91st win of the season. On the Road: ........................................ 44-37 three in Cincinnati in April, swept a three- © Happ’s homer was his 24th of the season, second-most all-time by a N.L. switch- game set at home in May, took one of three April: ................................................. 13-11 hitting rookie … Pittsburgh’s Josh Bell has the mark with 26 homers this year. May:.................................................. 12-16 on the road at the beginning of July before © Happ’s 24 homers are third-most by any Cubs rookie in a single-season, eclipsed splitting a four game set at Wrigley in mid- June: ................................................. 15-13 only by Kris Bryant’s 26 homers in 2015 and Billy Williams’ 25 blasts in 1961. July ...................................................... 16-8 August … the teams last met last month in Cincinnati, with the Cubs taking two of three AIMING FOR A COOL 100: Since taking the reins of the Cubs starting in 2015, August: ............................................. 17-12 … Chicago’s 15 wins against the Reds last year Joe Maddon has guided Chicago to a 291-192 (.602) regular season record … a September: ......................................... 18-9 were third-most in franchise history, victory today would make him just the fifth manager in franchise history to sit at surpassed only in 1945 (21 wins vs. Reds) and least 100 games over .500. All-Time Since 1876: ................. 10,802-10,257 in 1914 (17). © Maddon would join: Frank Chance (379 over at 768-389 from 1905-12), At Wrigley Field (since 1916): ......4,265-3,741 Cap Anson (350 over at 1,282-932 from 1879, 1880-97), Charlie Grimm (164 2017 Overall: ....................................... 11-6 over at 946-782 from 1932-38, 1944-49, 1960) and Joe McCarthy (121 over at Leading Entering 6th: ............................ 65-10 At Wrigley Field: ................................... 6-2 442-321 from 1926-30). Tied Entering 6th: .................................. 11-12 At Great American Ball Park: ................. 5-4 Trailing Entering 6th: ............................. 15-47 BUSY BODY: Kris Bryant has played 149 games this season, and one more 2016 Overall: ....................................... 15-4 appearance will make him the first Cub in franchise history to play at least 150 in Leading Entering 7th: .............................. 68-6 At Wrigley Field: ................................... 7-2 each of his first three major league seasons. Tied Entering 7th: .................................. 12-10 At Great American Ball Park: ............... 8-2 © Bryant would be just the 11th player in major league history to appear in 150 Trailing Entering 7th: ............................. 11-53 All-Time Since 1890: ................. 1,152-1,128 games in each of his first three big league campaigns … since 2000, the trick has At Wrigley Field: ........................... 466-442 been turned by Ichiro Suzuki (8 seasons, 2001-08), Albert Pujols (5 seasons, Leading Entering 8th: .............................. 77-7 At G.A.B.P. (since 2003): ................... 62-63 2001-05) and Hideki Matsui (3 seasons, 2003-05). Tied Entering 8th: ...................................... 9-7 Trailing Entering 8th: ............................... 5-55 CUBS ON DISABLED LIST (0) TO SUMMARIZE: The Chicago Cubs have reached the 90-win mark for the third- straight campaign and for the 25th time in franchise history dating to 1876. Player Date Date Games © The Cubs are the first defending World Series champions to win their division Leading Entering 9th: .............................. 77-2 (Injury) On Elig. Missed the next season, and reach 90 wins while doing so, since the 2009 Philadelphia Tied Entering 9th: ...................................... 9-2 N/A Phillies went 93-69 and won the N.L. East by six games. Trailing Entering 9th: ............................... 5-65 N.L. CENTRAL STANDINGS © In fact, besides this year’s Cubs and the 2009 Phillies, the only other defending World Champion to win their division the following season in the last 15 years Scoring First: .......................................... 57-26 1. Chicago Cubs* 91-69 ---- was the 2002 Arizona Diamondbacks, who won the N.L. West by 2.5 games. One-Run Games: ................................... 26-17 2. Milwaukee Brewers 85-75 -6.0 © Furthermore, the Cubs are the first defending World Champions to even make Two-Run Games: ................................... 13-17 3. St. Louis Cardinals 82-78 -9.0 the playoffs the next season since the 2012 Cardinals secured a Wild Card spot Extra-Inning Games: .................................. 7-3 4. Pittsburgh Pirates 73-87 -18.0 … the Cubs have snapped a four-year drought in which the defending World Scoring Four or More: ........................... 78-18 5. Cincinnati Reds 67-93 -24.0 Series champion failed to qualify for postseason the following year. Scoring Fewer Than Four: ....................... 13-51 © Additionally, the Cleveland Indians have secured the A.L. Central crown … 2017 Out-Hitting Opponents: ......................... 69-14 CONSECUTIVE SAVE CHANCES CONVERTED, marks the first time since 2002 that both defending pennant winners won their Hit Totals Equal: ...................................... 11-6 CUBS FRANCHISE HISTORY respective divisions the following season. Out-Hit by Opponents: .......................... 11-49 1. Wade Davis 32 4/4-9/19/17 © The Cubs have now qualified for post-season play three years in a row for the Hit at Least One HR: .............................. 76-36 2. Ryan Dempster 26 8/2/05-5/1/06 first time since 1906-08 and will play Game One of the National League Division Hit Two or More HR: ............................. 48-15 3. Hector Rondon 22 8/14/15-6/6/16 Series on Friday, October 6 at Washington. Playing Errorless Ball: ............................ 58-29 Committing at Least One Error: ............ 33-40 Joe Borowski 22 8/5/03-5/23/04 WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY?: The Cubs are 14-3 in their last 17 games RUNS SCORED SINCE ASB and 22-9 in their last 31 as they rev up for their third-straight post-season appearance. 1. Chicago Cubs ................................. 413 800 RUNS AND COUNTING: With 812 runs scored this season, the Cubs have surpassed 800 runs for the second season in a row (808 2. Minnesota Twins ............................. 405 runs last year) and just the 10th time in their last 118 seasons starting in 1900 … the Cubs have reached 800 runs in consecutive 3. Cleveland Indians ............................ 393 campaigns for the first time in more than 85 years, as the Cubs last did so in three-straight seasons from 1929-1931, also the only other occasion in which the Cubs scored at least 800 runs in two-straight seasons starting in 1900. 4. New York Yankees ........................... 378 BRYZZTO?: Kris Bryant on Monday connected for his 29th homer of the season and the 94th blast of his young career, already tying MOST HOME RUNS SINCE ASB, NL him for 25th place on the all-time franchise home run list with Dave Kingman. 1. Arizona Diamondbacks .................... 104 © With one more home run, Bryant would record his second 30-homer season by his age-25 campaign … he would be only the third 2. Chicago Cubs ................................. 103 player in franchise history to achieve that accomplishment, joining Ron Santo (1964 and 1965) and Anthony Rizzo (2014 and 2015). 3. Cincinnati Reds .................................. 94 JUST WIN, BABY: The Cubs have 291 regular season victories since the start of the 2015 season, marking the winningest three-season New York Mets .................................. 94 span for the franchise in over 100 years … the franchise last won more games in a three-season span from 1909-1911 (300 victories). 5. Los Angeles Dodgers .......................... 93 © The Cubs have secured their third-straight winning campaign dating to 2015 … this is just the third stretch of at least three-straight winning campaigns for Chicago in the last 78 seasons starting in 1940 … that includes a six-year run from 1967-72 and 2007-09. MOST HOME RUNS, N.L. STARTING IN 2013 BREAKING UP: The Cubs have a 48-24 (.667) record since the All-Star Break, the best mark in the N.L. and trailing only Cleveland 1. Giancarlo Stanton ............................ 174 (54-19, .740) … Chicago ranks second in the majors with a +120 run differential since the Break, trailing only Cleveland (+179). 2. Anthony Rizzo ................................ 150 3. Paul Goldschmidt ............................ 148 KB AT THE DISH: Per Fangraphs, Kris Bryant is third in the National League with a 6.7 WAR this season, trailing only Giancarlo Stanton (7.0) and Anthony Rendon (6.9) … Bryant has driven in 14 runs in his last 14 games dating to September