SoCal MLB Preview

LA Dodgers (26-25) at Chicago Cubs (31-21), 5:05 pm
CHICAGO (Ticker) - Carlos Zambrano can swing the bat, but pitching is his forte. Baseball's best hitting pitcher takes the hill on Wednesday when the Chicago Cubs aim for a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Zambrano, who is hitting .343 this season, went 4-for-5 with a pair of RBI in addition to throwing seven strong innings in a 12-3 victory over Pittsburgh on Friday. Zambrano limited the Pirates to two runs and six hits en route to his sixth straight winning decision. Zambrano (7-1, 2.47 ERA) and the Cubs have enjoyed playing at the "friendly confines" of Wrigley Field. Chicago has won 10 of its last 12 here, which includes a pair of 3-1 victories over the Dodgers. Los Angeles, which has lost four of five, will send Derek Lowe (2-5, 5.03) to the hill. Lowe is 0-4 with a 7.29 ERA in his last six starts. The righthander's last victory came when he allowed one run and three hits in five innings of an 8-3 win over Arizona on April 23. Derek Lowe (2-5, 5.03 ERA) allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings, walking two while striking out five. Suffered second straight loss and fourth in his last five starts during Friday's 2-1 setback to the St. Louis Cardinals. Carlos Zambrano (7-1, 2.47) gave up two runs and six hits in seven innings, walking one while striking out six.

Detroit (21-31) at LA Angels (32-22), 7:05 pm
ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) - Joe Saunders takes the mound for the Los Angeles Angles of Anaheim in the finale of a three-game series against the slumping Detroit Tigers on Wednesday. Saunders (8-1, 2.31 ERA) was outstanding in his last outing, allowing just one run and three hits during a 3-1 win over the Chicago White Sox on Friday. The lefthander is 4-0 at home and seeks his first career victory over the Tigers, who got three runs in 5 1/3 innings off Saunders in a 10-3 win here on July 28. Armando Galarraga (3-2, 3.70) counters for Detroit, which has just eight hits over the first pair of games in the series. Galarraga has struggled with his control of late, walking 10 batters in his last two games. The 26-year-old righthander was effective in his lone meeting against Anaheim this season, but did not get a decision after giving up three runs through six frames on April 26 at home. The Tigers may continue to struggle as slugger Gary Sheffield was placed on the 15-day disabled list with an oblique strain on Tuesday.