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Cubs set to face rival Cardinals in NL Central battle

Aug 8, 2008 - 10:03 AM St. Louis (64-53) at Chi Cubs (69-46) 2:20 p.m EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- With the Chicago Cubs threatening to run away with the National League Central, the St. Louis Cardinals will take a stab at reeling them back toward the pack on Friday at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs own a five-game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers (64-51) in the Central and sit six games north of the Cardinals. The five-game bulge is the biggest division lead in the National League.

Chicago's recent surge has coincided directly with All-Star Alfonso Soriano's return from the disabled list on July 23. In 15 games since, the Cubs have gone 11-4 while averaging 6.33 runs per game.

Soriano went 5-for-10 with two homers and seven RBI as Chicago scored 11 runs in back-to-back games against the Houston Astros on Tuesday and Wednesday.

St. Louis has lost ground over the past few weeks, dropping 10 of 17.

The Cardinals will try to gain a game back behind veteran Braden Looper (10-9, 4.29 ERA). The righthander is 1-2 in his last three starts despite posting a 2.37 ERA over that span.

Looper suffered the loss against the Cubs on July 4, allowing two runs and six hits in seven innings.

Chicago will counter with veteran lefthander Ted Lilly (11-6, 4.35), who has allowed three runs or less in eight of his last 10 starts. Lilly is 1-0 in two starts against St. Louis, yielding five runs in 13 combined frames.