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Cubs look to leave slow start, Friday fight in the past

Jun 2, 2007 - 1:22 PM Atlanta (31-23) at Chi Cubs (22-30) 1:05 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Chicago Cubs spent well over a quarter of a million dollars on improving their team in the offseason. So far, all it has brought them is mediocrity and a meltdown.

The Cubs continue their three-game weekend series with the Atlanta Braves on Saturday at Wrigley Field.

After spending millions of dollars on securing the rights to manager Lou Piniella as well as players like Alfonso Soriano, Jason Marquis and Ted Lilly, the Cubs have bought themselves just a two-game improvement over last season after 52 games.

Their latest issue was a dugout and clubhouse scuffle on Friday between starter Carlos Zambrano and catcher Michael Barrett.

Rich Hill (4-4, 3.06 ERA) has the unenviable task of trying to help Chicago put Friday in the rear view mirror and pick up his first win in five tries. After winning his first three starts this season with a 0.41 ERA capped by a six-frame, three-hit performance against the Braves on April 19, he is just 1-4 with a 4.43 ERA in his seven starts since.

Perhaps rediscovering his early season form, the lefthander yielded three hits over six scoreless innings on Sunday, not factoring into the decision in a 2-1, 11-inning defeat against the Dodgers. He is 2-0 with an 0.66 ERA in two lifetime starts against the Braves.

Chuck James (5-4, 3.86), who has alternated wins and losses over his last five decisions, gets the start for the Braves following one of his best starts of the season, striking out a season-high eight over six frames to get the decision in a 2-1 win over the Brewers. The lefthander won his only start against Chicago last September, yielding two runs over seven innings.