Cincinnati @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( May 3, 2012 ) Chi. Cubs 3, Cincinnati 4

The hottest team in the majors for nearly three weeks, the Cincinnati Reds have suddenly fallen on hard times. Losers of four straight after a stretch of 15 wins in 16 games, the Reds will try to turn it back around in a four-game series at Wrigley Field this weekend. The Chicago Cubs have served as a get-well stop for plenty of teams this season and have dropped eight straight.

Cincinnati did not appear to need injured star Joey Votto when it was averaging 5.6 runs during its hot streak. Now that the Reds have been held to two runs in the last four contests, eyes are shifting to the empty spot in the lineup. Votto (knee) is not expected to return until at least next week, when Cincinnati begins a seven-game homestand. Speaking of issues on offense, the Cubs now rank last in the majors in runs and were shut out twice by the San Diego Padres this week during a three-game series.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, FSOH (Cincinnati), CSN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Mike Leake (4-7, 4.51 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Chris Volstad (0-8, 7.22)

Leake has been knocked around a bit of late, posting a 1-1 record with a 7.29 ERA in his last four turns. The right-hander had been on a hot streak the previous month, throwing up a 1.95 ERA in five starts from June 19 to July 14. He was victimized by the long ball in a no decision last weekend, serving up two home runs to the Pittsburgh Pirates while being charged with four runs in six innings. Leake was pounded for five runs and 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings at Chicago on Apr. 21.

Volstad returned to the major leagues last Saturday and nearly notched his first win of the season, yielding two runs on six hits in seven innings to the Dodgers. The Cubs offense could not make it stand up in a 3-1 loss. Volstad will get plenty of opportunities to stick in the rotation the rest of the way with Ryan Dempster off to Texas and Matt Garza out for the rest of the season. The 25-year old was knocked around for six runs (five earned) in five innings to suffer a loss to Cincinnati on Apr. 20.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker said that Votto, who has been taking batting practice and running sprints, still needs to practice sliding before he can be activated.

2. Cubs rookie CF Brett Jackson got Wednesday off after going 0-for-7 with seven strikeouts in the previous two games.

3. Reds C Devin Mesoraco (concussion) is expected to be activated off the seven-day DL on Thursday and is penciled in to catch the first two games of the series.