• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

New-look Cubs host Reds

Jul 9, 2008 - 1:32 PM Cincinnati (43-48) at Chi Cubs (54-36), 8:05 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- A day after making a splash in the trade market, the new-look Chicago Cubs continue their three-game set against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday.

Chicago's pitching staff should become even more imposing after acquiring righthanders Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin from the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday for righthander Sean Gallagher, outfielder Matt Murton, infielder Eric Patterson and catcher Josh Donaldson.

The move was a prompt answer to the Milwaukee Brewers, who acquired lefthander CC Sabathia from the Cleveland Indians on Monday. Harden especially is expected to boost an already solid rotation, which includes Ryan Dempster and Carlos Zambrano (9-3, 2.96 ERA) - who will take the mound for Cubs on Wednesday.

The Cubs are gunning for their third straight win, but will have to solve Reds starter Johnny Cueto (7-8, 4.63).

Catcher Geovany Soto, one of seven Cubs named to the National League's roster for the upcoming All-Star game, hit his 16th home run and had three RBI on Tuesday. Soto has three homers in his last four games and is batting .370 with four home runs, three doubles and 12 RBIs in the last 13 contests.

Zambrano recently landed on the disabled list for the first time since 2002 and missed two starts with a strained right shoulder, but tossed six scoreless innings to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals in his return on Friday.

The Reds, who saw their four-game winning streak snap on Tuesday, have been paced by Brandon Phillips' .289 average, 14 home runs, 56 RBI and 18 stolen bases.