Overview

• Nick Lodolo exited Monday’s opener after 1⅔ innings with a blister on his left index finger, and Cincinnati’s bullpen preserved a 3-2 victory.
• Trade-deadline pickup Zack Littell delivered seven shutout innings with eight strikeouts in Tuesday’s 5-1 win over the Cubs.
• Spencer Steer’s three-run homer in the seventh inning broke a 1-1 tie and fueled the Reds’ second straight win.
• Under baseball’s expanded playoff format, the series carries heightened importance for both teams’ wild-card aspirations.
• Wednesday’s Game 3 will feature Andrew Abbott for Cincinnati against Chicago’s Cade Horton, with the series outcome on the line.