Hunter Greene had the Cubs chasing all night, and when Chicago finally found a little life, Jake Woodford shut the door on it in the worst possible way.
The result was a 4-0 Reds win on a night when the Cubs’ offense never found a rhythm and their newest bullpen arm got hit hard in his debut. Chicago managed just four hits, went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position, and left five men on base while Cincinnati rode Greene’s 12-strikeout performance to a clean finish.
Shota Imanaga did enough to keep the game within reach for five innings, allowing one run on Elly De La Cruz’s solo homer despite giving up seven hits. For a while, that kept things tight.
The problem was that Greene was even sharper. He worked seven innings, gave up only three hits, and overpowered the Cubs with a 100 mph fastball that set up everything else.
He also caught them looking five times and finished with 20 called strikes.
Chicago’s best chance came in the second inning after Seiya Suzuki opened with a double. Greene slammed the door from there, striking out the side to erase the threat. Suzuki was the only Cubs hitter with an extra-base hit, and he accounted for two of the team’s four hits on the night.
The game stayed 1-0 until the seventh, when Woodford entered and the Reds broke it open. De La Cruz started the damage with a one-out triple down the right field line, then scored on Sal Stewart’s sacrifice fly. JJ Bleday followed with a 417-foot two-run homer to center, stretching the lead to 4-0 and putting the game out of reach.
For Woodford, it was a rough first impression in a Cubs uniform. The 29-year-old right-hander, signed on July 3 and added after Bryse Wilson was designated for assignment, was making his first MLB appearance since June 4, when he was with the Brewers. His ERA now sits at 7.46 in 25.1 innings this season.
Greene’s outing was also a milestone of sorts. It was his first win of 2026 and came in just his second start back after arthroscopic surgery in March.
The Cubs now turn to Javier Assad against Nick Lodolo tomorrow. Lodolo has allowed one run in his last three starts, while Ian Happ has strong numbers against him and has a habit of leaving his former Cincinnati Bearcat home turf with a homer.
Chicago would love to bank two more wins before the break, especially with the Brewers still 7.5 games ahead in the division and 7-3 over their last 10. The Cubs will also need a lot more than four hits if they want to handle a Reds club that has won only 11 of its last 30 games. The next one is set for 6:10 pm.
In Other News...
Justin Steele Update Just Changed The Cubs Pitching Picture
Justin Steeles rehab has taken a meaningful step forward, with the Cubs left-hander expected to begin throwing off a mound in the first week of August as he works back from an elbow issue. Steele has been sidelined since April 7, and his absence has been one more hit to a pitching staff that has needed help for much of the season.
Craig Counsells latest update clarified the path ahead, and it is not the one Cubs fans were hoping for when Steele first went down. The rotation is the long shot now, which leaves Chicago weighing a different kind of late-season role if Steele keeps progressing, a possibility that could matter as the Cubs chase stability on the mound down the stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Draft Class Just Put Two Familiar Prospects On Notice
The Cubs 2026 draft class came together with a clear type of impact in mind, starting with Ole Miss pitcher Cade Townsend in the first round and followed by Texas A&M outfielder Caden Sorrell and first baseman Myles Bailey. It was the kind of haul that can reshape a farm system quickly, especially when a club is trying to balance upside with the reality of where its best young talent fits on the roster.
Caden Sorrells arrival gives Chicago another outfield piece to think about, and that kind of added depth can change how the front office views Kevin Alcantaras place in the organization. Bailey also adds another layer to the first-base mix, giving the Cubs more room to sort through their prospect inventory as the summer wears on and trade conversations inevitably start to sharpen. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs May Have Landed Another Fast-Rising College Bat
The Cubs may have found another college bat worth watching in Caden Sorrell, the Texas A&M outfielder they grabbed with the 62nd pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. A left-handed hitter with real offensive upside, Sorrell was ranked 33rd overall by MLB Pipeline, which gives Chicago a chance to look like it landed value a bit later than his public grade suggested. He also arrives with the kind of profile the Cubs have targeted and developed well in recent years, especially among college position players.
Sorrells appeal is easy to see when you look at the tool set and the production he brought to College Station, where he was one of the SECs better offensive threats. There are still some reasons evaluators kept him from going even higher, including swing-and-miss questions and some pull-side tendencies, but the Cubs are betting on the upside in a system that already has notable outfield depth. And with Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ expected to hit free agency this winter, the organizations long-term picture in the outfield could change quickly depending on how these young bats develop. [Read more 🡒]