Cincinnati @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 17, 2019 ) Cincinnati 4, Chi. Cubs 2

The Chicago Cubs are preaching the "next man up" philosophy with injuries to key players such as Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez and Addison Russell as they host the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday in the rubber match of their three-game series. Chicago had its five-game winning streak snapped with Tuesday's 4-2 loss and is tied with Milwaukee for the final National League wild-card spot - 1 1/2 games behind Washington - and two back of first-place St. Louis in the NL Central.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon has used catchers Victor Caratini and Willson Contreras at first base the last two games in Rizzo's absence, and rookie Nico Hoerner has filled in admirably at shortstop in place of Baez and Russell. Rizzo's sprained right ankle will be evaluated in the coming days while Russell could return from concussion protocol as early as this weekend. Cincinnati is 4-4 on its nine-game road trip and clinched its first season series over Chicago since 2014 with a 10-8 lead entering the finale. Chicago's Jon Lester takes the ball Wednesday after allowing 15 runs (12 earned) over 10 1/3 innings in his last two games and opposes Tyler Mahle, who is 0-1 with a 6.43 ERA in three starts since returning from Triple-A Indianapolis.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), WGN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Tyler Mahle (2-11, 5.11 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Jon Lester (13-10, 4.59)

Mahle allowed four runs and eight hits (two homers) while striking out six in 3 1/3 innings of Cincinnati's 11-5 victory at Seattle on Thursday. The 24-year-old Californian, who hopes to land a spot in the 2020 rotation, is 0-8 with a 5.45 ERA in 13 road starts this season. Chicago's Kyle Schwarber is 4-for-10 with a home run and five strikeouts versus Mahle, who is 2-1 with a 4.18 ERA in four starts against the Cubs after yielding six runs in five innings in a no-decision at Wrigley Field on May 25.

Lester permitted seven runs (four earned) and 11 hits in five innings of a 17-8 victory over Pittsburgh on Friday. The 35-year-old Washington native has pitched 160 2/3 innings this season - 80 1/3 at home, where he is 8-4 with a 4.37 ERA in 15 starts. Cincinnati's Eugenio Suarez is 14-for-39 with five home runs, 11 RBIs and eight strikeouts against Lester, who is 7-2 with a 4.00 ERA in 18 turns versus Cincinnati - 0-1, 5.06 in two outings this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Hoerner, the first player from the 2018 draft to join a major league roster, is 13-for-37 with two home runs and 11 RBIs in his first nine games.

2. Reds 1B Joey Votto drove in a run Tuesday and trails only Albert Pujols and Ryan Braun among active players with 35 home runs and 116 RBIs against Chicago, and his 120 hits lead active players.

3. Schwarber, who has a club-most 37 home runs, recorded a single, double and triple Tuesday.

PREDICTION: Cubs 6, Reds 2