Chicago @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 12, 2012 ) Cincinnati 3, Chi. Cubs 0

The Cincinnati Reds hold a comfortable six-game lead atop the National League Central and enter play Friday with the comfort of kicking off a four-game series against the Chicago Cubs, an opponent they swept a week ago. Cincinnati won three in Chicago last weekend and now gets the Cubs at Great American Ball Park, where the Reds are a major league-best 38-21. Conversely, the Cubs have been wretched on the road, posting the second-worst mark (16-42) in baseball.

Cincinnati had its five-game winning streak come to an end Thursday, but Jay Bruce continues to swing a hot bat. He is 7-for-17 with three homers, two doubles and seven RBIs in his last four. Chicago lost 10 of its first 11 in August before taking two of three against Houston - the worst team in the majors. Cubs outfielder David DeJesus is a .310 lifetime hitter against the Reds and enters the series off a four-hit, two-homer game.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), FSOH (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Travis Wood (4-8, 4.52 ERA) vs. Reds RH Bronson Arroyo (8-7, 3.95)

Wood was poised to break a five-start losing streak last time out against his former team, striking out a season-high eight while limiting the Reds to one run in seven innings before the bullpen blew the lead. The 25-year-old lefty is 0-5 since the All-Star break, although he has allowed only five runs and 13 hits in 18 innings over his last three starts.

Arroyo will match up against Wood for the second time in seven days. He went eight innings against the Cubs on Saturday, giving up two runs on five hits to win for the fourth time in his last five starts. Arroyo is 10-9 with a 2.94 in 27 appearances (25 starts) vs. Chicago. Starlin Castro (3-for-17) and Darwin Barney are a combined 4-for-28 against Arroyo.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cincinnati's pitching had allowed only three runs in four games prior to Thursday's 8-4 loss to the Mets.

2. Highly touted Cubs CF Brett Jackson broke out of a 2-for-24 slump with two hits and an RBI triple Wednesday.

3. Reds OF Ryan Ludwick has three homers and eight RBIs during an eight-game hitting streak.