Cincinnati @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 12, 2013 ) Cincinnati 2, Chi. Cubs 1

The Cincinnati Reds have made Wrigley Field into a home away from home. The Reds will be looking to extend their record winning streak to 13 straight games at the National League’s oldest park when they go for a sweep of the four-game series at the Chicago Cubs on Thursday. The Cubs have totaled five runs in the first three games of the series and managed only three hits in falling 2-1 on Wednesday.

Cincinnati has won 19 of its last 22 meetings with Chicago overall and has used the Cubs to get its pitching back in line. The Reds had allowed an average of 7.8 runs while dropping four of five before coming to Chicago. The Cubs did not advance a runner past first base aside from Nate Schierholtz’s solo home run Wednesday and will be going up against another tough starter in Mat Latos on Thursday.

TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Ohio (Cincinnati), Comcast SportsNet Chicago

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Mat Latos (6-0, 2.87 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Jeff Samardzija (3-7, 3.18)

Latos has allowed two or fewer earned runs in each of his last four starts and went seven innings to earn a victory over St. Louis on Saturday. The right-hander has already made a pair of starts against Chicago this season, tossing seven scoreless innings to pick up a win at home April 24 and allowing three runs in a season-low five frames while earning a win at Wrigley on May 5. Latos is 4-2 with a 2.91 ERA in seven career starts against the Cubs.

Samardzija, like several other Chicago starters, has been a victim of poor run support frequently in 2013. He has himself to blame for a loss Saturday, when he surrendered four runs on eight hits in six innings against Pittsburgh. Run support has been a problem in each of Samardzija’s two starts against Cincinnati this season as he has allowed a combined two earned runs in 12 innings without a win.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Cubs hope to have RHP Henry Rodriguez, who was acquired from Washington on Tuesday, available for the finale.

2. Cincinnati 3B Todd Frazier has homered in each of the last two games.

3. Chicago 1B Anthony Rizzo has one extra-base hit - a double - in his last 10 games.

PREDICTION: Reds 3, Cubs 2