Oakland @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 26, 2010 ) Oakland 5, Chi. Cubs 2

It took a nearly flawless pitching performance for the Chicago Cubs to break their recent losing streak. They would settle for a decent performance from their next starter as they try to put together a more positive run.

Carlos Zambrano takes the mound as the Cubs host the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday in the opener of a three-game interleague series.

Chicago snapped a three-game losing skid on Sunday as left-hander Ted Lilly took a no-hitter into the ninth inning of a 1-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox. Lilly needed to be every bit as good as he was as the Cubs were no-hit themselves until two outs in the bottom of the seventh.

It was another in a long streak of steady starts for Lilly and the Cubs must be hoping Zambrano can feed off the veteran hurler's recent performances.

Lilly has made seven straight quality starts with an ERA of 2.10 in that span, but he has only one victory in the run. Even if Zambrano turns in a strong start, it won't guarantee a win, but it would help. Chicago pitchers have made 38 quality starts this season, but are only 21-17 in those games.

Zambrano (2-4, 6.05 ERA) will be making his seventh start of the season and third since returning to the rotation on June 2 after a stint in the bullpen. Zambrano has seen the velocity on his fastball increase but is still a work in progress. In his last two starts, he is 1-1 and has allowed six runs and eight hits while lasting just a combined 9 1/3 innings.

With his velocity returning, Zambrano also needs to work on his control. He has issued 21 walks this season - with eight coming in his last two starts.

The A's come to Wrigley Field hoping Zambrano stays wild and helps them to a much-needed win.

Oakland was swept in a three-game series at the San Francisco Giants and has dropped below .500 (32-33). The Athletics are four games behind the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the AL West.

Trevor Cahill (5-2, 2.91 ERA) gets the assignment of trying to stop Oakland's losing streak while trying to extend a personal winning streak.

Cahill has won his last four decisions and has given up just one run in each of them. He has yielded more than three runs just once - in his first start of the season when he was roughed up for eight runs and seven hits in five innings of a 10-2 loss at the Toronto Blue Jays on April 30.

Cahill will be facing the Cubs for the first time.