Cubs Carry Majors-Best Win Streak Into Rematch vs. Skidding Reds

The Chicago Cubs are playing their best baseball of the season, and they are doing it with a flair for the dramatic. As the sun sets on Wrigley Field this Tuesday evening, the Cubs will look to extend their majors-best winning streak to seven games when they host the reeling Cincinnati Reds in the second game of a pivotal four-game series. After a Monday night thriller that featured a rain delay, a ninth-inning comeback, and a walk-off home run, the North Siders are proving that this is not just a hot streak—it’s a statement.

The Cubs currently sit alone in first place in the National League Central, a division that has suddenly become the most competitive in baseball. Every team in the division is above .500, making every series a potential momentum-shifter. But Chicago has found a way to separate itself, and the numbers are staggering: 12 consecutive wins at home, a streak that hasn’t been seen at the Friendly Confines since 2008.

On the other side of the diamond, the Reds are in a tailspin. Cincinnati has lost four straight games, and their bullpen—once a strength—has been a liability. Monday night’s collapse was a microcosm of their recent struggles: they were three outs away from victory after a lengthy rain delay, only to watch the Cubs rally in the bottom of the ninth. For a team trying to claw back into the division race, the Reds are running out of time and answers.

How the Cubs Keep Winning: Clutch Hitting and Home-Field Advantage

The narrative surrounding the Cubs this season has shifted from “surprising contender” to “legitimate threat,” and the reason is their ability to win close games. Monday night’s 5-4 victory was a perfect example. After a 55-minute rain delay in the top of the eighth inning, the Cubs faced a 4-3 deficit. But Nico Hoerner tied the game with a sacrifice fly, and then Michael Conforto launched a solo home run to deep right field, sending the Wrigley Field crowd into a frenzy.

“It tells me everyone is playing well,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell told the Chicago Sun-Times. “It also tells me we haven’t played too many games in the division yet.” Counsell’s measured tone is a reminder that the season is still young, but the results are undeniable. The Cubs are 12-0 in their last 12 home games, a streak that has transformed Wrigley Field into a fortress.

Key factors behind the Cubs’ surge include:

• Elite bullpen depth: The Cubs’ relief corps has posted a 2.89 ERA over the last 15 games, with closer Adbert Alzolay converting save opportunities with consistency.
• Timely hitting: Chicago is batting .298 with runners in scoring position during the winning streak, compared to .234 earlier in the season.
• Defensive reliability: The Cubs have committed only three errors over their last 10 games, turning double plays at a league-best rate.

Conforto, who has been a key offseason addition, is hitting .320 with four home runs in his last seven games. His ability to provide power from the left side has balanced a lineup that previously relied too heavily on right-handed bats.

Reds’ Slide: A Collapse in the Ninth and a Looming Identity Crisis

For the Cincinnati Reds, Monday night was a gut punch. They carried a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth, with their bullpen having held the Cubs scoreless for two innings after the rain delay. But the wheels came off. Reliever Alexis Díaz—usually a reliable arm—walked two batters and allowed the tying run before Conforto’s heroics. The Reds have now lost four straight, and their pitching staff has blown three leads in that span.

The Reds’ struggles are compounded by a lack of offensive consistency. While the team ranks in the top five in the NL in home runs, they are dead last in batting average with runners in scoring position (.198). In Monday’s game, they stranded seven runners and went 1-for-7 with RISP. Manager David Bell is facing increasing pressure to shake up the lineup, but the options are limited.

“We have to find a way to finish games,” Bell said after the loss. “We’re playing hard, but we’re not playing smart right now.” The Reds’ defense has also been sloppy, committing six errors over the last four games. Against a team like the Cubs, who capitalize on every mistake, those errors are lethal.

Key concerns for Cincinnati entering Tuesday:

• Bullpen fatigue: The Reds’ relievers have thrown the second-most innings in the NL over the last week, and their ERA has ballooned to 5.12.
• Lack of clutch hitting: The team’s .198 average with RISP is the worst in the majors since June 1.
• Road woes: Cincinnati is 6-12 on the road this season, including a 2-8 mark in their last 10 away games.

The Reds will send Hunter Greene to the mound on Tuesday. Greene has elite strikeout stuff—he leads the team with 78 Ks—but he has struggled with command, walking 4.2 batters per nine innings. If he cannot find the zone against a patient Cubs lineup, the Reds could be in for another long night.

Expert Analysis: Can the Cubs Keep the Streak Alive?

From a strategic standpoint, the Cubs have all the momentum. They are playing with confidence, their pitching is clicking, and they have the home crowd behind them. But streaks in baseball are fragile, and the Cubs are facing a Reds team that is desperate to stop the bleeding. Here is the breakdown of what to watch for on Tuesday night.

Pitching Matchup: The Cubs will counter Greene with veteran right-hander Kyle Hendricks. Hendricks has been a model of consistency this season, posting a 3.12 ERA with a 1.08 WHIP. He relies on soft contact and ground balls, which plays perfectly at Wrigley Field. The key for Hendricks will be to neutralize the Reds’ power hitters—like Spencer Steer and Elly De La Cruz—by keeping the ball down and away.

The X-Factor: The Cubs’ lineup depth. With Hoerner hitting .315 and Conforto providing protection in the middle of the order, Chicago can attack from multiple angles. The Reds’ bullpen is gassed, so if Hendricks can keep the game close for six innings, the Cubs have a clear advantage in the late innings.

Prediction: The Cubs are 12-0 at home during this streak for a reason. They have shown resilience, and the Reds are in a mental slump that is hard to break overnight. Expect a tight game through five innings, but the Cubs will pull away in the sixth and seventh. Final score: Cubs 6, Reds 3.

Strong Conclusion: A Defining Moment for the NL Central

As the Cubs chase their first division title since 2020, this series against the Reds represents a chance to bury a rival. A win on Tuesday would extend the majors-best winning streak to seven games and push Chicago further ahead in the NL Central standings. More importantly, it would send a message to the rest of the league: the Cubs are not just a feel-good story—they are a legitimate force.

The Reds, meanwhile, are at a crossroads. A loss tonight would drop them to 4.5 games back in the division, a steep hill to climb in a division where every team is above .500. Their pitching is faltering, their offense is inconsistent, and their confidence is shaken. If they cannot find a way to win at Wrigley Field, this series could mark the beginning of a long slide.

For Cubs fans, the atmosphere at Wrigley Field is electric. The 2008 home winning streak is a distant memory, but the current run feels special. “We’re just having fun out there,” Conforto said after Monday’s win. “When you’re playing good baseball, it’s infectious.”

And right now, the Cubs are playing the best baseball in the majors. Tuesday night will be another test, but if the last 12 games are any indication, the North Siders are ready to pass it with flying colors.

Source: Based on news from Deadspin.

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