CINCINNATI (Interstat) — The Chicago Cubs, winners of eight of their last 10, open a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night at Great American Ball Park, where rain is in the forecast with an 83-degree first-pitch temperature.

Chicago (52-41) has won four straight against the Reds dating to May 4-7, when the Cubs swept a four-game set in Chicago by scores of 3-2, 5-4, 7-6 and 8-3. The Cubs sit atop the NL Central, while Cincinnati (42-49) enters seven games under .500 after splitting a two-game set with Philadelphia.

Left-hander David Peterson is scheduled to start for the Cubs. Peterson (1-0, 5.02 ERA) is coming off a strong outing Thursday at Baltimore, where he allowed one earned run on two hits over five innings in a 3-2 loss. However, his previous start was a disaster: July 3 against St. Louis, he surrendered 10 earned runs on nine hits in 3 2/3 innings of a 17-1 loss. In three June starts, Peterson posted a 2.84 ERA.

Third baseman Sal Stewart has been Cincinnati’s most productive hitter. Stewart is batting .333 (10-for-30) over his last seven games with three home runs and six RBIs. He homered twice and drove in three runs in Wednesday’s 11-5 win over the Phillies. On the season, Stewart is hitting .278 with 14 home runs.

The Cubs’ offense has been explosive, scoring 23 runs in a win over San Diego on July 1 and averaging 6.4 runs over their last 10 games. Right fielder Seiya Suzuki is 6-for-13 with two homers and five RBIs in his last three games.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, the Cubs are projected to win 8-3. Chicago is a -1.5 run-line favorite. The over/under is 9.

Friday’s game is the first of three in Cincinnati before both teams break for the All-Star game. The Cubs then return home to host Minnesota and Detroit. The Reds travel to Colorado, Seattle and St. Louis after the break.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. EDT.