Cubs lineup vs. Reds, Schwarber out

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Tony Crumpton - Senior Editor - Thursday, May 18 2017

The Chicago Cubs (20-19) will play against the Cincinnati Reds (19-20) at 1:20 p.m. CDT on Thursday afternoon televised on CSN Chicago and MLB Network.

Veteran lefty Jon Lester will take the mound for the defending World Champions as the Cubs try for the sweep of the Reds on their current ten game homestand. Lester is 11-2 with 1.68 ERA in his 19 starts at Wrigley Field since beginning of 2016.

Cubs rookie Ian Happ will be in center field again and bat cleanup.

The Cubs are currently in third place (two games back) in the National League Central behind the Cardinals and Brewers.

Cubs batting lineup vs. Reds

1. Ben Zobrist RF

2. Kris Bryant 3B

3. Anthony Rizzo 1B

4. Ian Happ LF

5. Willson Contreras C

6. Addison Russell SS

7. Javier Baez 2B

8. Jon Lester P

9. Albert Almora Jr CF

It's a beautiful day for baseball on CSN as @LenKasper and @JimDeshaies preview the series finale! #CubsTalk

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— Cubs Talk (@CSNCubs) May 18, 2017