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Cubs-Marlins Preview

Sep 16, 2010 - 7:55 PM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Chicago (65-81) at Florida (73-72), 7:10 p.m. EDT

Getting swept by a division rival seemingly finished off the Florida Marlins' faint postseason hopes, but they still have a chance at a third consecutive winning season.

Marlins rookie Alex Sanabia looks to build on a strong outing as he faces a Chicago Cubs team trying to avoid clinching its first losing season in four years Friday night.

After winning all three games in Washington last weekend, the Marlins (73-72) were outscored 23-10 during three straight losses to Philadelphia. They allowed nine runs over the first five innings of Wednesday's 10-5 defeat, which dropped them nine games back in the wild-card race and 12 behind in the NL East.

Florida has a 5.13 ERA over its last 18 games, but will send a pitcher to the mound that is coming off an outstanding effort.

Sanabia (4-2, 3.95 ERA) yielded three hits over 6 2-3 scoreless innings in a 3-1 victory over the Nationals last Friday. That start came just before he served a five-game suspension for his role in a bench-clearing brawl between the Marlins and Nationals on Sept. 1.

Sanabia has ended up with two extra days between starts. Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez felt that could benefit the right-hander, who turned 22 on Sept. 8.

"I think that might help him because he's still a kid," he told the team's website. "I think it will help him to take that break, regroup and watch the game from a distance. I'm pretty sure that is going to help him, not only physically, but mentally."

Sanabia bounced back from two sub-par outings, during which he gave up nine runs in 10 2-3 innings.

In his first matchup with the Cubs, Sanabia will be opposed by Ryan Dempster (13-10, 3.62), who is also coming off one of his best performances of the season.

The right-hander gave up three hits over seven innings, struck out eight and walked two for his 100th win in a 1-0 victory at Milwaukee on Saturday.

Dempster, 100-100 in his career, has gone 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in three starts against Florida.

The Cubs (65-81) come into this three-game set 5-1 on their nine-game road trip after sweeping St. Louis. Tyler Colvin put his team ahead for good in Wednesday's 7-3 victory with a three-run homer, becoming the fourth Cubs rookie with 20 home runs in a season.

"It was a great series and I'm proud of these guys," interim manager Mike Quade told the team's website. "I hope we don't have a hangover when we get to Miami."

Colvin is five homers shy of matching Hall of Famer Billy Williams' club record for rookies, set in 1961. Colvin is tied with Florida's Mike Stanton for rookie lead this season.

Colvin breaking Williams' record or winning the rookie home run race, however, won't help Chicago avoid its first losing season since it went 66-96 in 2006.

The Cubs have staved off their 82nd defeat by going 14-7 and 9-3 on the road since Quade took over Aug. 23.

Chicago dropped two of three at home to Florida from May 10-12. It has split its last six games at Sun Life Stadium.