Cubs And Reds Closer Than Thought

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When the Cubs left Cincinnati on July 9 after losing four out of five to the Reds, the team from the North Side of Chicago was 39-52 and 9 1/2 games behind the Reds in the standings.  The Reds were 49-43 and within 2 1/2 games of Milwaukee for first place.

Since that day the Cubs won 19 and lost 20.  The Reds meanwhile won 14 and lost 25 they hold only a 4 1/2 game lead over the Cubs.

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Both managers want the same thing for different reasons.

Bryan Price wants his team to just play better baseball, while they get injured players back or try to get them back.

Brandon Phillips missed four weeks and is hitting .250 since his return.

"Brandon looks more comfortable.  He's staying in the middle of the field which is a good sign," Price said.

The Reds are looking forward to getting Joey Votto back.  They committed to getting the 2010 MVP back to 100 percent before he comes back when eligible to do so on September 4.  He just started baseball activities.  Homer Bailey is on the disabled list and neither Price nor Bailey knows if he will make it back in time.

"He is taking the PRP (platinum rich plasma) injections.  After each of those they are shut down for a week," Price said.

"I don't know if I can come back or not," Bailey said.  'If they tell me to throw, I throw. I feel like I can throw but then something simple like squeezing one of those rubber balls, reminds me."

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Tony Cingrani is on the disabled list at Louisville with a sore shoulder.

"I don't want to put any words in the trainer's mouth," Price said.  "I think there isn't enough time to get him on a throwing program for him to help us."

Dylna Axlerod will be recalled to pitch on Thursday.

"Our plan was to keep him in the rotation in Bailey's spot but Watergate made it necessary to send him out," Price said.

The Reds planned to pitch Axelrod against the Rockies in Colorado on August 16 but the water main at Coors Field broke which caused the Reds to play a doubleheader and  burn its bullpen.

The Cubs traded veteran Emilio Bonafacio and pitchers Jason Hamels and Jeff Samardzija at the trading deadline.

Chicago have four players in the starting lineup on Tuesday that started the season 24-years old or younger.

The Cubs are expected to recall young Cuban prospect, Jorge Soler, who is 22-years old, to finish out the season on the Major League roster.

"It is pretty exciting that the young man will be joining us," Cubs' manager Rick Renteria said.  "The organization feels that he has been moving along.  We want him to get his feet wet.  He is a talented outfielder with some power.  I just want him to show us what he's got within the framework of the team."

The Cubs are using this rest of the year to see what their young players are capable of doing.