Reds vs. Cubs

OPENING DAY 2004 • Fresh hope, old questions • Reds offer discounts to try to get more fans into seats • A symbiotic relationship • Larkin will put on reflectors after game • Reds-Cubs series preview Click to view a detailed, printable map of the parade route, parking and street closings. (Acrobat PDF, 84k)

When: Today, 2:10 p.m.; Wednesday, 7:10 p.m.; Thursday, 12:35 p.m.

Where: Great American Ball Park.

TV: Today (FSN, ESPN), Wednesday (FSN).

Radio: WLW-AM (700).

Records: Reds - 0-0; Cubs - 0-0.

The arms: Today - Reds RHP Cory Lidle (12-15, 5.75 ERA) vs. Cubs RHP Kerry Wood (14-11, 3.20); Wednesday - Reds RHP Paul Wilson (8-10, 4.64) vs. Cubs RHP Greg Maddux (16-11, 3.96); Thursday - Reds RHP Jose Acevedo (2-0, 2.67) vs. Cubs RHP Matt Clement (14-12, 4.11).

The bats: Reds first baseman Sean Casey batted .371 with three doubles and nine RBI in his last 11 spring games. ... Left fielder Adam Dunn batted .409 with six home runs and 13 RBI in his last 18 spring games. ... Cubs right fielder Sammy Sosa hit .407 with four homers and 13 RBI during spring training. ... Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee batted .317 with 17 RBI and 15 strikeouts this spring.

The rest: The Reds are 15-17 against the Cubs on Opening Day, including 12-15 since 1900. ... This is the Reds' 128th Opening Day game. They are 62-64-1 in home openers. ... Reds center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. has seven career opening day home runs, second-most in major-league history behind Frank Robinson (8).