The Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds will meet in Dyersville, Iowa, for the second edition of Major League Baseball’s Field of Dreams Game. The game, which takes place Thursday, August 11, is a living tribute to the iconic 1989 film “Field of Dreams” that starred Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones, Amy Madigan, and the late Ray Liotta.
While opinions vary on how effective the movie is, which was an Academy Award nominee for Best Picture, there’s no disputing that it’s one of the most discussed and recognizable baseball films ever made . The film hinges on the decision made by Costner’s farmer character to carve a baseball diamond of his corn field — at great personal risk and expense — all because a mysterious whispering voice told him to.
The dimensions of the movie field itself — now a prominent tourist destination in Iowa — aren’t such that a major-league game can be played on it, but a nearby field constructed for last year’s inaugural FoD Game between the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox certainly captured the essence of things.
Heading into the game, Cincinnati is 44-66 overall with a 16-23 record (third in the NL Central), and have a 28-13 record in games when they scored five or more runs. Chicago is 45-65 overall with a 22-24 record (fifth in the NL Central), and are 27-13 in games when they scored at least five runs.
The teams meet for the eighth time this season with the Cubs ahead 4-3 in the season series. Of course, it’s really just another game at this point. It doesn’t have any playoff implications; those hopes died long ago. The pitching matchup isn’t particularly notable, and neither team has a high-powered offense.
But it will be the best game you can watch, because it’s the Field of Dreams Game, and the Field of Dreams Game is awesome.
The teams will meet at 7:15 p.m. for the first pitch, wearing throwback uniforms and hoping to put on a game half as entertaining as last year’s Field of Dreams Game, when the White Sox beat the Yankees, 9-8. Tim Anderson’s walk-off home run into the corn was like movie magic in itself.
That game was watched by nearly six million viewers, making it the most-watched MLB game on any network since 1998. This year’s game will again have plenty of cool features, and you should make sure to watch, as it may be the last Field of Dreams Game for a bit: the stadium is set to undergo construction, and a 2023 game appears unlikely.
Much like last year, the specially constructed FoD ballpark will be the story of the night. As noted above, the field from the movie isn’t suitable for MLB competition, but the one that’s being used captures the same essence thanks to grace notes like the manual scoreboard and the 159 acres of surrounding 10-foot corn stalks. Adding to the ambience is the fine mesh seven-foot high green chain link fence that makes it look like, yes, they’re playing right in the middle of an Iowa cornfield.
Also, each team will have a throwback logo carved into the corn just beyond the right-field wall.
How to watch the Field of Dreams Game
Where: Dyersville, Iowa |Â When: 7:15 p.m. ET on Thursday, Aug. 11
TV channel: Fox |Â Live stream:Â fuboTVÂ (try for free)
Odds:Â Cubs -105; Reds -115; O/U: 9 (via Caesars Sportsbook)
JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia.com.Â
