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Cubs-Astros Preview

Oct 2, 2010 - 4:47 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Chicago (73-86) at Houston (75-84), 7:05 p.m. EDT

With little on the line, Carlos Zambrano is having the kind of success the Chicago Cubs hoped he would have had throughout the season.

The enigmatic right-hander looks to continue his recent dominance, finish his eventful season on a positive note and help the Cubs to a third straight victory Saturday night against the Houston Astros.

Late in a season in which he began in the rotation, moved to the bullpen then endured a suspension and anger management therapy, Zambrano (10-6, 3.36 ERA) has finally enjoyed some success.

The former All-Star is 7-0 with a 1.27 ERA in 10 starts since returning to the rotation following a June 25 dugout blowup that banished him to the restricted list and a second stint in the bullpen. About to conclude the third season of a five-year, $91.5 million contract, Zambrano is giving the Cubs (74-86) reason to keep him around for 2011.

"Thank God that he blessed me with this end of the season," said Zambrano, who has allowed one earned run over 27 2-3 innings while going 3-0 in his last four outings.

Zambrano, who has not allowed a run in his last two starts, gave up three hits in seven innings of a 1-0 win at San Diego on Monday.

"I still have confidence in myself and all my pitches are working now," he told the Cubs' official website.

Zambrano is 12-8 with a 2.64 ERA in 28 starts against the Astros, but allowed three runs in 4 1-3 innings of a 3-1 loss at Houston on June 4.

Chicago pitchers ran their scoreless-innings streak to 21 after a 2-0 win over Houston (75-85) on Friday to open this series. Behind a lineup filled with mostly September call-ups, the Cubs improved to 4-1 on their final road trip and 23-12 under interim manager Mike Quade.

Second baseman Blake DeWitt is 12 for 36 in his last nine games for the Cubs, who are looking to win their first series in three tries at Minute Maid Park this season.

Likely to be near the front of the Astros' 2011 rotation, J.A. Happ (6-3, 2.77) takes the ball Saturday. The left-hander is 5-3 with a 3.00 ERA in 12 starts since coming over from Philadelphia in the Roy Oswalt trade July 29.

Happ is 0-1 in his last four starts, but has a 2.53 ERA during that span and has not yielded an earned run his last two outings. He allowed two runs in six innings of a 9-3 loss at Pittsburgh on Sunday, his first defeat since Aug. 20.

Happ allowed two runs in six innings of a 4-3, 12-inning win while with Philadelphia in his only previous start versus Chicago on Aug. 11, 2009.

Houston outfielder Hunter Pence went 2 for 4 on Friday, and is 10 for 25 at home versus Chicago this season. However, he is 5 for 22 lifetime against Zambrano.

The Astros have lost eight of 10.