Cincinnati @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 13, 2013 ) Cincinnati 6, Chi. Cubs 4

The Cincinnati Reds look to continue their mastery of Chicago when they visit the Cubs on Wednesday in the finale of a three-game series. Cincinnati won the first two games of the series to make it 14 victories in its last 15 games at Wrigley Field. Shin-Soo Choo delivered the tiebreaking two-run single in the 11th inning of Tuesday’s 6-4 victory to keep the Reds 5 1/2 games ahead of Arizona for the second National League wild-card berth.

The Cubs snapped their home scoreless streak at 33 2/3 innings when Nate Schierholtz hit a two-run blast in the second inning. Chicago has lost six consecutive home games and 12 of its last 16 overall contests. Brandon Phillips hit a two-run homer for all the runs in Monday’s victory and went 3-for-6 on Tuesday as the Reds moved within 3 1/2 games of first-place Pittsburgh in the NL Central.

TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati), WGN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Bronson Arroyo (10-9, 3.51 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Chris Rusin (2-1, 3.08)

Arroyo snapped a two-start skid by beating San Diego in his last outing when he gave up one run and four hits in seven innings. He is 12-9 with a 3.04 ERA in 29 career appearances (27 starts) against Chicago after winning on May 24, when he allowed three runs and six hits in six innings. Arroyo is 3-6 with a 4.21 ERA in nine career starts on the road.

Rusin beat St. Louis on Friday when he allowed seven hits in six shutout innings. It was the second scoreless outing in three turns – the other being when he allowed three hits in seven innings in a no-decision against San Francisco on July 27. Rusin took a no-decision against Cincinnati last September when he allowed five runs and 10 hits in five innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Reds RHP J.J. Hoover pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings for the victory on Tuesday and hasn’t been scored on in his last 21 appearances, covering 24 1/3 innings.

2. Cubs 3B Donnie Murphy has four homers in eight games since joining the team.

3. Even with his game-winning hit, Choo is 2-for-22 over his last five games.

PREDICTION: Reds 9, Cubs 3