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Potential playoff battle continues in Arizona

Aug 25, 2007 - 2:22 PM Chicago Cubs (66-61) at Arizona (72-57), 9:40 pm EDT

PHOENIX (Ticker) - The Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago Cubs are both fighting to hang on to slim division leads. They will look to add to their respective advantages when they face off on Saturday at Chase Field.

The Cubs took the series opener of Friday, 6-2, behind six strong innings from lefthander Sean Marshall. The victory pushed their advantage in the National League Central to 1 1/2 games over the Milwaukee Brewers (65-63).

With the loss, the Diamondbacks' lead in the NL West slipped to two games over the San Diego Padres (69-58).

Arizona has now dropped four of five after beginning the month 12-4.

Ted Lilly (13-6, 3.88 ERA) will get the start for the Cubs. The veteran lefthander had a stretch of eight wins in nine starts from June 26 to August 9, but has struggled in his last two outings, going 0-1 while surrendering 11 runs in 11 innings.

Lilly, who signed a four-year, $40 million deal with Chicago in the offseason, has had a problem with the home run ball this season, yielding 22 blasts in 26 starts, including eight in his last five outings.

The Diamondbacks will counter with Yusmeiro Petit (2-4, 5.14). The 22-year-old righthander is also in the midst of a rough stretch, going 0-2 with a 10.54 ERA in his last three starts.