MLB July 12: Cubs vs Reds Preview and Yankees Futures Game Prospect Highlights

The Chicago Cubs host the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on July 12, 2026. The Cubs hold a 53‑42 record and will likely start right‑hander Matthew Boyd (4‑1, 4.31 ERA). The Reds sit 43‑51 and are expected to turn to left‑hander Andrew Abbott (5‑5, 3.92 ERA). Both teams have sub‑average batting averages, with the Reds at .229 and the Cubs at .244, and each team’s top hitters – Elly De La Cruz for Cincinnati and Pete Crow‑Armstrong for Chicago – are highlighted.

In the 2026 MLB All‑Star Futures Game, Yankees prospect Ben Grable addressed the media, saying his lifelong goal is to win a World Series. Grable, a 2025 11th‑round pick, is 2‑1 with a 3.09 ERA in Double‑A this season, posting a 13.8 K/9 rate and touching 99 mph on his fastball. The American League defeated the National League 6‑1 in the exhibition.

Both events underscore ongoing storylines in Major League Baseball as the season progresses.