Cody Bellinger is preparing for what could be his final series with the Chicago Cubs.
Bellinger will have a big decision to make following Chicago's season-ending, three-game set with the visiting Cincinnati Reds that begins on Friday afternoon. He'll have the chance to opt out of his three-year, $80 million contract if he so chooses, but for now, he's only focused on polishing off the 2024 campaign.
"I want to finish out this season having fun and ending on a good note," Bellinger said. "And then we'll see what happens with that."
And the 29-year-old is adamant that he's keeping his options open.
"I've got kids now, and that all weighs into your decisions for baseball," Bellinger said. "From a baseball standpoint, I kind of know what to expect and what I'm looking for. No decision has been made. I honestly have no clue right now."
Bellinger most recently went 1-for-4, scoring a run and driving in another in the Cubs' 9-6 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday. He is hitting .267 on the season and has 18 homers and 78 RBIs.
Chicago (81-78) has dropped three of its past five games and is 11-12 in September. Right-hander Jameson Taillon (11-8, 3.41 ERA) will attempt to help the Cubs get back to .500 for the month when he makes his 28th start of the season on Friday.
Taillon came away with a win against the Washington Nationals last Friday after giving up two hits across six scoreless innings.
In 17 career starts against Cincinnati, Taillon is 5-6 with a 5.15 ERA.
The Reds (76-83) have not officially announced a starter, but they could turn to red-hot right-hander Nick Martinez (10-6, 3.22).
Martinez has won his past four starts, posting a 0.73 ERA during that span. He is coming off last Friday's six-inning performance against the Pittsburgh Pirates in which he allowed two hits and zero runs.
Martinez is 2-0 with a 2.81 ERA in seven career appearances (one start) against Chicago.
Whoever toes the rubber for Cincinnati will be hoping for a better performance from the Reds' lineup than the one it turned in on Wednesday, when four Guardians pitchers combined for six perfect innings in a 5-2 Cleveland win.
TJ Friedl opened the top of the seventh with a bunt single to give Cincinnati its first baserunner.
"I know the fans didn't like it, but that's part of (Friedl's) game," Reds interim manager Freddie Benavides said.
Benavides is still searching for his first victory at the helm after Cincinnati parted ways with David Bell on Sunday. The Reds are 0-2 since.
Cincinnati will go out and find its new manager this offseason, and Benavides is hoping that he has a chance to land the full-time gig.
"I'll sit with (president of baseball operations) Nick (Krall) and (general manager) Brad (Meador) -- we'll have some meetings in the next couple of days," Benavides said. "I've managed before, when (Bell) has been suspended. It's fun. This time, whether it's five games or not, you look at it as, ‘This is your club.' You have to."
Friday marks the 11th meeting of the year between the Reds and Cubs. Cincinnati has already taken the season series with Chicago, holding a 7-3 edge.
