The Cincinnati Reds head to Wrigley Field on Friday, August 28, for a 2:20 PM ET afternoon clash against the Chicago Cubs. Rhett Lowder gets the ball for Cincinnati against Chicago's David Peterson in what shapes up as a pitching-focused NL Central battle. For a Reds club looking to make ground in the division standings, games against a Cubs lineup that features legitimate middle-of-the-order threats like Alex Bregman and Seiya Suzuki carry real weight. Every win on the road in this rivalry matters.

Probable Pitchers: Rhett Lowder vs. David Peterson

Rhett Lowder draws the start for the Reds. The young right-hander has been one of the more intriguing arms in Cincinnati's rotation, and an afternoon start at Wrigley Field — with its unpredictable wind and a lineup built to punish mistakes — is a genuine test of where he stands as a pitcher. How Lowder handles the Cubs' contact-heavy approach will set the tone for the entire game.

David Peterson gets the nod for Chicago. Peterson is a left-hander comfortable working through a lineup multiple times, and the Cubs will lean on him to keep Cincinnati's offense in check through the middle innings. The Reds will need to be disciplined early and not let Peterson work through stretches of weak contact unchallenged.

Chicago Cubs Starting Lineup

• Pete Crow-Armstrong — CF
• Seiya Suzuki — RF
• Michael Busch — 1B
• Alex Bregman — 3B
• Ian Happ — LF
• Nico Hoerner — SS
• Pedro Ramírez — 2B
• Michael Conforto — DH
• Carson Kelly — C

Keys to Watch for the Reds

Neutralize the Cubs' Middle of the Order

Bregman hitting cleanup is the name that demands Lowder's full attention. Bregman is an experienced, disciplined hitter who will work counts and punish anything in the zone. Suzuki in front of him and Ian Happ behind him give Chicago a legitimate core. Lowder cannot afford to let Bregman beat him with runners on base.

Make Peterson Work Early in Counts

The Reds' best path to runs against Peterson is a patient approach early in the game. If Cincinnati can run up his pitch count in the first three innings, Chicago's bullpen becomes a factor sooner — and that is where games like this can be won or lost.

Pete Crow-Armstrong at the Top

Crow-Armstrong leading off for the Cubs gives Chicago a dynamic table-setter. He is the type of hitter who can create problems before the lineup even gets to its power. Lowder needs to be sharp from pitch one.

Prediction

This is a competitive mid-afternoon game between two NL Central clubs that know each other well. Wrigley Field is never an easy place to play, and the Cubs' lineup has enough balance top to bottom to make life difficult. That said, if Lowder is on and the Reds' offense stays disciplined against Peterson, Cincinnati has a real shot. Call it a close one: Reds 4, Cubs 3. Catch the action on Reds.TV or WLW 700.