Cincinnati @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 10, 2012 ) Cincinnati 10, Chi. Cubs 8

Cincinnati had lost a season-worst five straight games before coming to life in a 10-8 triumph at Wrigley Field on Friday, building its lead in the National League Central back up to 3 1/2 games over Pittsburgh. The Cubs, who have lost nine of 10, dropped 22 games off the pace, with a free-falling Houston club the only thing keeping the Cubs out of the basement. The Reds now own a slim 4-3 lead in the head-to-head series this season.

The Cubs, who had won 12 of their last 16 home games before Friday’s defeat, have scored fewer runs than any team in baseball, becoming the last team in the major leagues to reach the 400-run mark on Thursday. Chicago sports an abysmal 16-42 road mark, but it is a respectable 28-25 at home. Cincinnati, the lone team in the NL Central with a winning record away from home (31-26), has flourished despite the absence of All-Star 1B Joey Votto, riding a pitching staff that ranks fourth in the majors in ERA and is among the National League leaders in most categories.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Ohio (Cincinnati), Comcast Sports (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Bronson Arroyo (7-7, 4.05 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Travis Wood (4-8, 4.77)

Arroyo’s up-and-down season continued with a loss at Milwaukee on Aug. 1 (5 1/3 IP, 10 H, 5 ER), a setback that snapped a run of four wins in five starts. The right-hander last faced Chicago on May 2, taking a tough 3-1 loss (6 IP, 9 H, 3 ER), and he is 9-9 with a solid 2.97 ERA in his 26 career outings (24 starts) against the Cubs. Arroyo is 6-3 all-time at Wrigley Field.

Wood has shown signs of recovery after a brutal stretch in late July (15 2/3 IP, 23 R), but he still comes into Saturday having lost each of his last five starts. His ERA has risen by almost two runs during that stretch, even after a tough 2-0 loss at San Diego on Aug. 6 (6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER). This will be the first time facing Cincinnati for Wood, who pitched for the Reds in 2010 and 2011.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Reds have won 11 of their last 12 Saturday games and are 20-7 in their last 27 games coming off a win.

2. Chicago hitters are just 22-for-99 (.222) against Arroyo, with Alfonso Soriano (10-for-45, 14 K) accounting for nearly half of those at-bats.

3. The only two Cincinnati hitters who have faced Wood are Ryan Ludwick (2-for-6, RBI, 2 K) and Wilson Valdez (0-for-3, BB).