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Cubs-Reds Preview

Aug 28, 2010 - 3:06 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Chicago (54-74) at Cincinnati (73-54), 7:10 p.m. EDT

Jay Bruce ensured the Cincinnati Reds of a successful return home and helped them maintain their lead in the NL Central. The Reds hope Bronson Arroyo can be their next hero by adding to his recent dominance over the Chicago Cubs.

The right-hander will try to help Cincinnati match a season high with its fifth straight home win by earning his sixth in a row over Chicago on Saturday night.

Batting leadoff for the first time since he was a rookie, Bruce homered in three consecutive at-bats and tied a career high with five RBIs during a 7-1 victory Friday night, the 11th in 14 matchups with the Cubs this season.

The outfielder batted first because second baseman Brandon Phillips was out with a sore right hand. Phillips' status is unknown for Saturday's game.

"I just want to continue doing what I'm doing, and continue doing what we're doing because we're doing great," Bruce said. "We've got something pretty cool going on here."

Cincinnati (74-54) stayed four games in front of St. Louis in its division and will try to add to that lead by moving 21 games above .500 for the first time since a 96-67 finish in 1999.

Having Arroyo on the mound against the Cubs could help the Reds, winners in 10 of 13, accomplish that feat. Cincinnati previously won five straight at home May 15-24.

The right-hander is 5-0 with a 1.88 ERA in his last six starts against the Cubs and has not allowed a run in his two wins this season. Arroyo (14-7, 3.82 ERA) is also 4-1 with a 2.16 ERA in his last five starts overall and has given up two runs in back-to-back wins, including Sunday's 5-2 road victory over the Dodgers.

"We're glad we've got a little bit of a cushion," Arroyo told the team's website. "We're still going to have to scratch and fight for every win and every out from now until the end of the season to come out on top."

The right-hander will try to follow by matching his career high for victories, set in 2008 and matched last season, and help Cincinnati to its sixth win in eight home meetings this season against Chicago (54-75).

The Cubs will try to prevent that while improving to 4-1 since Mike Quade took over for Lou Piniella. That could be difficult with struggling right-hander Randy Wells (5-12, 4.56) scheduled to start.

The right-hander, 0-5 with a 6.23 ERA in his last six starts, gave up a career high-tying seven runs for the third time during his skid in Sunday's 16-5 defeat to Atlanta - Piniella's final game with the Cubs.

"This is probably the one loss that stings the most for me this year," Wells told the team's website.

Wells is 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA in two starts this season against the Reds and is 3-1 with a 2.58 ERA in six career matchups.

Bruce is 1 for 7 against the right-hander, while Joey Votto, batting .391 in his last 12 games, is 2 for 14.

Marlon Byrd and Blake DeWitt have been the most successful Cubs hitters against Arroyo, each going 4 for 13.