Chicago @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 26, 2013 ) Cincinnati 11, Chi. Cubs 1

The Cincinnati Reds hope last year's domination of the Chicago Cubs continues when the rivals meet for a three-game series beginning Monday at Great American Ball Park. The Reds have gone 35-15 against the Cubs over the past three seasons, and they've won the last four meetings and nine of the last 10.

The Reds have won six of seven on their current homestand after taking three of four from Miami over the weekend. Cincinnati's pitching staff had allowed two runs or fewer in six straight games before a 10-6 victory Sunday. Chicago was swept in a three-game set at Milwaukee over the weekend and has lost six of seven. The Cubs made six errors in the series against the Brewers and have given up 14 unearned runs in 17 games.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, CSN Chicago, Fox Sports Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Travis Wood (1-1, 1.83 ERA) vs. Reds RH Mike Leake (1-0, 4.26)

Wood has been outstanding in his first three starts, but he hasn't gotten much support from the offense. He pitched into the eighth in his last outing against Texas but was outdueled by Derek Holland. Wood has made two starts against the Reds and is 0-1 with a 5.25 ERA against his former team.

After a couple of rocky outings, Leake was outstanding last time out against Philadelphia, holding the Phillies to three hits over seven scoreless frames and racking up seven strikeouts. Leake is 4-2 with a 3.56 ERA in 10 starts against the Cubs.

WALK-OFFS

1. Reds 3B Todd Frazier is 4-for-5 with a home run against Wood. Frazier is 5-for-15 with two homers and six RBIs in the past five games.

2. Cubs SS Starlin Castro is riding a 13-game hitting streak, the longest in the majors. Castro is 11-for-28 with four extra-base hits against Leake.

3. Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo has homered in three of the past four games.

PREDICTION: Reds 5, Cubs 3