Cubs, Zambrano at PNC for Three-Game Series

     The Chicago Cubs (28-19) travel to Pittsburgh this weekend to take on the Pirates in a three-game set. 

Chicago will send Carlos Zambrano to the mound in the first game of the series to act as a stopper, as the Cubs have lost their last two games.  They will look to avoid losing three straight, which they have not done all season long. 

The Pirates will send, arguably, the best pitcher of their season to the mound in Zach Duke.  

Duke and Zambrano matched up last Saturday when Duke recorded the only win for Pittsburgh against the Cubs this season. 

Yes, the Chicago Cubs sure have had the Pirates number this year.  Dating back to last season, the Cubs have won 12 of their last 13 contests with Pittsburgh.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have performed above early season expectations.  Subtract the games against Chicago, and the Pirates are a very respectable 21-13 against the rest of the league. 

They may have trouble in their starting rotation this year, but they can score runs with anyone in baseball.  Leading the way is the bright young center fielder Nate McClouth, who started the season as the Pirates leadoff hitter, but has since settled in the number three hole. 

His run production is being utilized now that he is batting third. 

Another reason the Pirates are playing well is Xavier Nady.  Nady is batting .328 with  38 RBI this season.  The Pirates will look to ride those horses if they are going to have a chance at taking this series from the Cubs.

The Cubs are still sitting atop the National League Central right now by one game (two in the loss column) over the St. Louis Cardinals. 

The Cubs' splits between Wrigley Field and on the road are quite substantial.  They are two games under .500 on the road, with their only road sweep coming at PNC Park back in April. 

This will be the last series between these two teams until August comes around. 

The Cubs offense this year has been tremendous.  They are getting big contributions from rookies Geovany Soto and Kosuke Fukudome.  Alfonso Soriano also caught fire last weekend against the Pirates.

Maybe this series will get him jump started again after a poor series in Houston. 

That's the thing about this Cubs team, anyone can hurt you on any given night.  Their offense has been very cyclical this season, where it seems when one guy isn't hitting, three others are. 

When everyone is clicking on the same night, the Cubs have shown that they are capable hanging crooked numbers on the scoreboard.  They have three games in which they have scored 13 or more runs this season.

It's always fun to see a game at PNC.  The Chicago Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates both are very capable of creating plenty of fireworks.  With the Cubs starting Zabrano and the resurgent Ted Lilly this weekend, I expect a Chicago series win.