Pregame Notes: The last-place Chicago Cubs at the first-place Milwaukee Brewers, 7:10 CT, lineups

Travis Wood will start off the final series of this 10-game road trip, as the 2013 all-star will square off against right-hander Marco Estrada and the red-hot Milwaukee Brewers. Miller Park seems to be a constant killer for the Cubs, and with this first-place Brewcrew it won`t be getting any easier.

Wood (4.35 ERA, 3.73 FIP) will look to  repeat his strong performance last time out at Petco Park against the Friars, in which he tossed seven-and-a-third innings on a measly three hits and two runs. Wood worked efficiently with just 98 pitches to record 22 outs, and will hope to keep the pitches low again, which could be a challenge against this Brewers powerhouse.

Estrada (3.98 ERA, 5.43 FIP) demonstrated why the “win’ statistic for pitchers is utterly useless, serving up five runs, four long balls, on six hits in six-plus innings. Estrada picked up the “win”, however, as he was supported with a nine-run offensive outburst. Estrada has been extremely home run prone this season, leading the league with 16 homers allowed in just 61-plus innings.

Anthony Rizzo will get a rare, well-deserved day off tonight, which could possibly help him clear his mind to get out of his recent slump. Rizzo has posted a triple-slash of just .184/.354/.316 over the past 14 ballgames with just a single long ball. With Rizzo not starting for the Cubs at first base for the first time in 2014, Mike Olt will spot-start on the other end of the diamond.

Game one of this three game set will be shown on WGN, and WGN-Radio will also pick up the game.

Lineups: