Philadelphia @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 12, 2011 ) Chi. Cubs 3, Philadelphia 4

THE STORY: Roy Halladay was simply dominant in last week's All-Star Game. He retired all six batters he faced before calling it a night. Halladay will likely pitch much longer on Monday, when he leads the Philadelphia Phillies into Wrigley Field for the opener of a three-game set against the Chicago Cubs. Philadelphia took three of four from Chicago when the teams met last month in the City of Brotherly Love. All told, the Phillies have won 14 of their last 21 games, while the Cubs have dropped eight of 11.

TV: 8:05 p.m., CSN (Philadelphia), WCIU (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Roy Halladay (11-3, 2.45 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Rodrigo Lopez (1-2, 4.02 ERA)

Halladay has won his last six decisions, but surprisingly has posted just a 1-3 career mark against the Chicago Cubs. The one win came this season when the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner tossed seven scoreless innings in an eventual 7-5 triumph on June 10. Halladay did not record a decision in his last outing, but the Phillies went on to squeeze out a 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves. Philadelphia is 16-3 this season when Halladay takes the ball.

Lopez has turned in a pair of solid starts. The 35-year-old Mexican tossed seven scoreless innings in a win against the Chicago White Sox on July 3 before permitting three runs in six innings in a no-decision versus the Pittsburgh Pirates five days later. Lopez has split a pair of decisions against Philadelphia in his career.

ABOUT THE PHILLIES (59-35): Philadelphia posted an 8-5 victory on Sunday to take two of three from the New York Mets for the fourth time this season. Michael Martinez belted his first career homer and drove in a career-high four in the win. Raul Ibanez recorded his fourth consecutive two-hit game, and has a fair shot to continue the trend on Monday. He is 9-for-27 in his career against Lopez. Brad Lidge rebounded from a tough effort on Saturday to strike out two in a scoreless inning on Sunday during his rehab assignment with Double-A Reading. Lidge is eyeing a return to the Phillies by July 22. Shane Victorino, who has been sidelined with a thumb injury, may return to the club on Monday after completing his rehab assignment with Reading.

ABOUT THE CUBS (38-58): Aramis Ramirez continues to hit, although the rest of his team seems to be hibernating. Ramirez collected a pair of doubles and drove in two during Sunday's 7-5 loss to the Florida Marlins. A subject of constant trade rumors, Ramirez has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games - although he is just 2-for-16 with five strikeouts against Halladay. Starlin Castro has respectable numbers versus Halladay, going 3-for-6. Castro has hit safely in eight of his last nine games after notching his team-leading 25th double on Sunday.

FINAL PITCH: "You want to face the best, and it’s always a battle,” - Chicago's Marlon Byrd, on squaring off versus Halladay