2:20pm ET, Friday, 8/6 TV: FSOH, CSN

Probable pitchers: Bronson Arroyo (11-6, 4.01) vs Tom Gorzelanny (6-5, 3.48)

1:05pm ET, Saturday, 8/7 TV: FSOH, CSN

Probable pitchers: Edinson Volquez (2-1, 6.35) vs Randy Wells (5-9, 4.40)

2:20pm ET, Sunday, 8/8 TV: FSOH, WGN

Probable pitchers: Travis Wood (2-1, 2.42) vs Thomas Diamond (0-1, 4.50)

2010 Season Match-ups

The Cubs are not looking forward to receiving the Cincinnati Reds as they went 3-7 in this season.  The North Side team has also been outscored by 31 runs (36-67) in those meetings.

Last time when the Reds visited Wrigley Field was in early July. 

They won three games out of four including two convincing victories of 12-0 and 14-3.

Chicago Cubs (47-61)

Notes

There is no doubt that the Cubs have been struggling. 

They dropped seven games in a row including two in Houston, a three-game sweep in Colorado, and two at home against the Milwaukee Brewers before Wednesday night’s 15-3 win over the same Brewers. 

The losing streak puts the Cubs down to the fifth place in the NL Central standings and 13.5 games behind the leaderthe worst margin in this season.

Offense

Rookie shortstop Starlin Castro has hit safely in his last five games, including a 4-for-5 performance on Wednesday night.

Castro’s batting average is at .315, which is the teams best.

The Cubs do not have any other significant hitting streak, however, they would hope to carry over what they have left off in a 16-hit game Wednesday night.

In that contest, Derrek Lee went 2-for-3, Geovany Soto 3-for-5 with five RBI, and Blake Dewitt 2-for-5 with four.

Third baseman Aramis Ramirez was not in the starting lineup Wednesday but he had a pinch-hit three-run homer in the sixth inning to help the Cubs win 15-3.

Pitching

Tom Gorzelanny will start on Friday afternoon. 

His previous game was a no-decision in the 6-5 defeat last Saturday. 

It may not be obvious to notice but he has not lost a game since May 26 against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Chicago.  In July, he was 4-0 with an ERA of 4.20 and had three quality starts.

Saturday starter Randy Wells lost in his last two gamesthe previous one was an embarrassing 18-1 defeat on Monday in which he only lasted four innings allowing seven runs (six earned), 10 hits and a three-run home run. 

But Wells possesses a 3-0 record against the Reds for his career.

Right-handed rookie Thomas Diamond, who was called up to start Tuesday, will have at least one more start with the Cubs.  His major league debut was a loss but he fanned 10 Brewers in six innings pitched. 

Carlos Zambrano, who filled in as reliever since being activated from the restricted list, will not be available in the bullpen this series. 

Instead, the front office announced that he would start against the Giants in San Francisco next Monday.

The battered Cubs’ bullpen will benefit from a day off Thursday to rest some tired arms as their relievers including Sean Marshall, Andrew Cashner and Justin Berg have been overused in recent games. 

Rookies Mitch Atkins and Casey Coleman were called up from Triple-A Iowa during this week.    Atkins pitched a shutout inning on Wednesday.  Coleman’s major league debut was a bad one; he yielded six earned runs in 2.1 innings Monday night.

Cincinnati Reds (61-48)

Notes

The Reds regain first place in NL Central after Monday night’s victory in Pittsburgh.  They are half a game ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals.  The last time they occupied the first place was on July 17.

They come into Chicago after taking two games out of three against the Pirates in PNC Park.  This weekend in Wrigley Field will mark the end of their six-game road trip before welcoming home the Cardinals to kick off the key series next Monday.

Offense

The MVP candidate, first baseman Joey Votto, returned to the starting lineup Wednesday after missing two games due to a sprained wrist. 

He leads the team in batting average (.324), home runs (27) and RBI (73).

Veteran shortstop Orlando Cabrera was placed on the 15-disabled list Tuesday with an injury of strained left oblique. 

Utility man Paul Janish is taking his position and has hit well in his last game going 3-for-3 with one home run and three RBI.

Third baseman Scott Rolen has second-most home runs in the team with 18.  But he only connected once in his last 18 games. 

Pitching

The Cubs are lucky able to avoid the ace starter Johnny Cueto who leads the team in wins (11), ERA (3.24), and strikeouts (98) but they still have to face tough starters: Bronson Arroyo, Edinson Volquez, and Travis Wood, all game winners in their last outings.

Arroyo pitched seven strong innings against the Atlanta Braves at home for the victory which snapped his two-game losing streak. 

He had one start against the Cubs this seasonhe shut down the Cubs’ offense in six innings and the Reds prevailed 12-0.

Missing tons of actions in the first half of the season due to injury, Volquez rejoined the Reds in mid-July.  His ERA is high at 6.35 but he struck out 22 in 17 innings pitched. 

Volquez is perfect (2-0) against the Cubs in his career with a microscopic ERA of 0.75.

Rookie Travis Wood’s major league debut was in Wrigley Field on July 1.  He blanked the Cubs in seven innings pitched. 

He already has a one-hitter in his resume, it was in Philadelphia on July 10, but the Reds lost that game 1-0. 

Closer Francisco Cordero (3-4, 3.86) ranks third in saves (29) in the National League but his six blown saves are the most among major league closers.

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