Cincinnati @ Chicago preview
Wrigley Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 8, 2011 ) Chi. Cubs 4, Cincinnati 1
THE STORY: It was less than two weeks ago that the Chicago Cubs finally strung together their first three-game winning streak of the season. Now they're on the brink of doubling that number. The Cubs take a season-best five-game winning streak into Friday's opener of a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Ohio, WGN
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Mike Leake (9-6, 3.89 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Ryan Dempster (8-8, 4.96 ERA)
Leake recorded his third straight quality start in Saturday's 7-2 win over the San Francisco Giants, earning his first win since July 3. He allowed only two runs - one earned - over 6 1/3 innings. Leake is 3-0 with a 2.93 ERA in four starts against the Cubs. One of the wins came June 6 in Cincinnati, as he held Chicago to two runs over eight innings.
Dempster is coming off a win against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday. He allowed three runs over six innings in the 6-3 victory. Dempster has made 15 starts and 24 relief appearances against Cincinnati and is 6-7 with a 3.97 ERA. He has split two starts against the Reds this season, dropping a 2-0 decision at home on May 8 and allowing one run over six innings in a 4-1 win June 8 at Cincinnati.
ABOUT THE REDS (54-57): The Reds were within three games of the NL Central lead on July 24, but they've lost six of 10 to fall 7 1/2 off the pace. The Reds will be without third baseman Scott Rolen, who had surgery on his left shoulder Wednesday and is expected to miss four to six weeks.
ABOUT THE CUBS (47-65): The Cubs return home after an odd 10-game road trip in which they lost the first five games but won the last five. Chicago has posted its longest winning streak since it won six straight from Sept. 13-19, 2010. Marlon Byrd picked up his 1,000th career hit in Thursday's 7-6 win.
FINAL PITCH: The Cubs hit 10 home runs in their four-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They had hit only 91 homers in their previous 109 contests.