Florida @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 16, 2011 ) Florida 13, Chi. Cubs 3

THE STORY: The Florida Marlins look to finish the opening weekend of the second half on a high note when they close out a four-game road series with the Chicago Cubs on Sunday. The Marlins took two of the first three games, unloading on Chicago starter Carlos Zambrano in a 13-3 rout Saturday. Mike Stanton homered in back-to-back innings and drove in four runs, while Logan Morrison added a three-run shot. Florida has won seven of its last eight games.

TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, FS Florida, CS Chicago

PITCHING MATCHUPS: Marlins RH Chris Volstad (5-8, 5.40 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Randy Wells (1-3, 6.80).

After excelling in three interleague starts at the end of June, Volstad has reverted to his old form this month, allowing 10 runs on 16 hits in 10 innings. He managed a win in his last start (six innings, seven hits, three runs) against Houston on July 10, his third victory in four starts after beginning the season 2-7. Volstad boasts a respectable 3.68 ERA in six career games against the Cubs, but he is still looking for his first win (0-2). Third baseman Aramis Ramirez is 5-for-10 with a homer against Volstad, who was a 5-1 loser against Chicago on May 19. Wells, who is winless in his last eight outings, has struggled since returning from the disabled list in late May, with only one quality start. In his last four starts, he allowed 20 earned runs in 22 1/3 innings, giving up 33 hits and nine walks. Wells lasted eight innings in his lone career start against the Marlins, but still took a loss when two of the four hits he allowed left the park. Florida second baseman Omar Infante is 4-for-5 with two home runs against Wells.

ABOUT THE MARLINS (45-49): Florida had struggled against Chicago starters Matt Garza and Ryan Dempster in the first two games of the series, going scoreless in 15 innings against the duo, but the Marlins had no such trouble with Zambrano, tagging him for eight runs before chasing him from the game in the fifth. The Marlins have scored 49 runs over their last eight games, with Saturday's 13 a season high. Utility man Emilio Bonifacio extended his hit streak to 15 games Saturday with an eighth-inning infield single. He is 23-for-58 (.397) over that stretch.

ABOUT THE CUBS (38-57): After getting excellent outings from Garza and Dempster, the Chicago pitching rotation suffered a setback when Zambrano walked four and allowed a pair of Stanton homers. The bullpen wasn't much better with Ramon Ortiz giving up three runs in 1 1/3 innings, but the lopsided loss did allow beleaguered closer Carlos Marmol to get a rest. Marmol, who allowed five runs Thursday without retiring a batter, has gone six consecutive appearances without a strikeout.

FINAL PITCH: The four free passes issued by Zambrano bring Chicago's total to 363, easily the most in the major leagues.