(Sports Network) - Rookie left-hander Travis Wood steps into Edinson Volquez's spot in the Cincinnati starting rotation today, when the first-place Reds close out a three-game weekend series with the visiting Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park.
Wood, a second-round draft choice in 2005, has made 10 starts, while plugging in various holes on the mound for the Reds, who were without Volquez and Aaron Harang due to injuries and lost Johnny Cueto because of a week-long suspension earlier this month.
Volquez was scheduled to start against the Cubs but was sent to the bullpen by manager Dusty Baker after retiring just two batters in an 11-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants on Monday.
Wood dropped a 1-0 verdict to Colorado in his first big-league decision on July 18, but rallied with consecutive wins at Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, the Cubs and Arizona before a loss to the Giants on Tuesday by the Bay.
In 10 starts, he's allowed 43 hits and struck out 49 batters in 61 1/3 innings. He gave up four hits and three earned runs in the Aug. 8 win over Chicago at Wrigley Field, tossing 6 1/3 innings.
The Reds, who won Friday's series opener, dropped a 3-2 verdict in game two Saturday when Chicago's Kosuke Fukudome hit the game-winning two-run home run and Randy Wells spun six solid frames.
Fukudome finished 2-for-3 and Xavier Nady also went deep for the Cubs, who have won four of their last five.
Wells (6-12) allowed two runs on six hits while walking two and fanning four and Carlos Marmol closed the door in the ninth by retiring the side in order to earn his 24th save.
Bronson Arroyo (14-8) suffered the loss after he yielded three runs on five hits and did not walk a batter, while striking out five for the Reds.
In spite of the loss, Cincinnati maintained its four-game lead over St. Louis in the National League's Central Division after the Cardinals fell, 14-5, at Washington.
For the Cubs, fellow rookie Casey Coleman makes his third career start and seeks a second consecutive win.
The 23-year-old product of Florida Gulf Coast University made four relief appearances between Aug. 2-13 before starting for the first time on Aug. 18 in a 5-1 loss to San Diego.
He bounced back for win No. 1 five days later in Washington, where he gave up three hits and a run in 6 1/3 innings of a 9-1 triumph.
Coleman was touched for two hits and two runs in three innings of relief in Chicago's 11-4 loss to the Reds on Aug. 8 at Wrigley.
He's allowed three hits and a run in 9 1/3 road innings.
The Reds are 11-4 against the Cubs this season.