Chicago, IL (My Sportsbook) - Kerry Wood attempts to reach the 12-win plateau for the second campaign in a row this evening, when the Chicago Cubs begin a season- ending, six-game homestand with the first of three versus the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field.

Wood suffered the loss in his last trip to the hill, permitting a pair of runs on six hits over eight inning against the New York Mets. He walked three and struck out four, while yielding one home run.

The setback was the hard-throwing Wood's fifth in seven decisions, spanning eight outings. Still and all, the righthander has surrendered two earned runs or less in five of his last seven trips to the bump. This will be the 25-year- old hurler's 13th start of the season at home, where he is just 3-4 with one complete game and a 4.11 earned run average.

For his career, Wood is an impressive 7-1 versus Cincinnati. He has faced the Reds three times in 2002, going 2-1 with a 5.94 ERA.

Jimmy Haynes counters for the visitors. Haynes did not receive a decision in his last trip to the mound, despite tossing six scoreless innings of four-hit ball against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He walked a pair and whiffed four.

The no-decision was the righthander's second in a row. In his last five trips to the rubber, during which he is 2-1, Haynes has permitted two earned runs or less on four occasions to lower his ERA from 4.40 to 4.12. Away from home this season, the 30-year-old hurler is 8-4 with a 3.85 earned run average in 14 attempts.

Lifetime, Haynes is 2-2 versus Chicago. He has battled the Northsiders twice this year, compiling a 1-0 record with a 6.75 ERA.

Cincinnati failed to win a contest in its final series at Cinergy Field, as it was swept in a three-game series by the Philadelphia Phillies. Aaron Boone had a solo homer and finished with three hits and two RBI for the Reds, who have lost five of their last six.

Jose Rijo suffered the defeat after surrendering three runs and eight hits in only 4 2/3 frames. In his first start since June 1, Rijo whiffed four.

Chicago, meanwhile, has dropped five of its last six following a 5-4 loss on Sunday to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Fred McGriff hit his 30th homer of the year for Chicago, which lost two-of-three in the series at PNC Park. McGriff became the first major leaguer to hit 30 homers in a season for five different teams, and is also the first Cubs first baseman to have 30 round-trippers in one year since "Mr. Cub" Ernie Banks belted 32 in 1968.

Sammy Sosa went 1-for-3 and remains two home runs away from becoming the first player in baseball history to amass five consecutive 50-homer campaigns. If he does hit two more clouts this season, Sosa will become the 18th player to belt 500 career home runs. 500 career home runs.

Alan Benes suffered the loss after surrendering four runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out three.

The Cubs are just 34-41 on the year as the host, while the Reds bring a 37-38 road record into this game. Cincinnati leads the season series, 9-5, including five victories in seven tries in the Windy City.