Miami @ Chicago preview

Miami at Chi. Cubs

Last Meeting ( Apr 28, 2013 ) Chi. Cubs 4, Miami 6

The Chicago Cubs have won two straight at home for the first time since early July, and now they have the lowly Miami Marlins coming to town for three games beginning Monday. The Marlins have similar notions about taking advantage of a struggling opponent as they look to build off Sunday's 7-0 win at Atlanta, which snapped a six-game skid. Chicago lost 17 of 20 home games before claiming the final two contests against visiting Philadelphia to pick up its first series win at Wrigley Field since July 5-7.

Both teams are out of the playoff picture and using the final weeks of the season to take a look at some of their young talent as they look toward next year. The Cubs added a veteran presence to their rebuilding roster when they activated Ryan Sweeney and Luis Valbuena from the disabled list Sunday, and each drove in a run in his first game back. Chicago took three of four when the teams met April 25-28 in Miami.

TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, FSN Florida (Miami), WGN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Henderson Alvarez (2-3, 3.90 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Travis Wood (8-10, 3.09)

Alvarez had his last outing cut short by rain, as he gave up one run in 1 2/3 innings against the Nationals before his night ended. The 23-year-old is winless in five starts since July 31 and has failed to record a quality start in his last four outings. Alvarez never has faced the Cubs.

Wood's second half hasn't lived up to his All-Star first half, but he returned to form last time out as he held the Los Angeles Dodgers to one unearned run over seven innings to pick up his only win in six starts in August. It was the 26-year-old's 21st quality start of the season, but only his fourth in his last nine outings. Wood has struggled against the Marlins, going 1-2 with a 10.93 ERA in three meetings - with the victory coming earlier this year.

WALK-OFFS

1. Marlins RF Giancarlo Stanton left Sunday's game after injuring his right ankle. Stanton is 6-for-15 with three homers in four games against the Cubs this season.

2. Cubs SS Starlin Castro slumped for most of August but heated up at the end of the month and is hitting .308 with a homer and five RBIs over his last nine games.

3. Miami is 21-46 on the road and has won only two of seven series away from home since the All-Star break.

PREDICTION: Cubs 5, Marlins 3