Cincinnati @ Chicago preview
Wrigley Field
Last Meeting ( May 26, 2013 ) Chi. Cubs 5, Cincinnati 4
Stinging from a second consecutive series loss, the Cincinnati Reds will try to get back on track when they visit Wrigley Field for a four-game series with the Chicago Cubs starting Monday. The Reds dropped two of three to Colorado and St. Louis on a disappointing home stand, falling four games behind the Cardinals in the National League Central. The Cubs have dropped five of their last seven but beat Pittsburgh 4-1 on Sunday.
A trip to Chicago might do the Reds good - they have won 14 of their last 21 away from home and they're 7-2 against the Cubs this season, including a three-game sweep at Wrigley last month. The Cubs have been more selective at the plate lately, drawing 25 walks in their last six games, but they've also struggled to come up with big hits - or any hits at all. They didn't record a hit before the fifth inning in any of the three games against Pittsburgh and went 1-for-16 with runners in scoring position.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Ohio (Cincinnati), Comcast SportsNet Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Homer Bailey (3-4, 3.84 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Scott Feldman (5-4, 2.84)
Bailey rebounded from his worst outing of the season to pitch seven solid frames in his last start, allowing three runs in a no-decision against Colorado. He beat Chicago on May 25 in Cincinnati, as he held the Cubs to two runs over six innings, and is 6-2 with a 4.92 ERA in 11 starts against the Cubs.
Feldman has allowed two or fewer earned runs in nine of his last 10 starts. The one poor outing during that stretch was against the Reds, who tagged him for five runs in 5 1/3 innings May 24 in his only start against them. Joey Votto and Ryan Hanigan both homered against Feldman in that one.
WALK-OFFS
1. Chicago 1B Anthony Rizzo has reached base in a career-high 13 straight games.
2. Reds 2B Brandon Phillips has 151 home runs and 609 RBIs and needs one homer and three RBIs to tie Joe Morgan for the most all-time among Cincinnati second basemen.
3. Cubs SS Starlin Castro is in a 2-for-33 slump over his past nine games. Castro is 5-for-21 with two homers against Bailey.
PREDICTION: Reds 5, Cubs 3