Florida @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 15, 2011 ) Florida 1, Chi. Cubs 2

THE STORY: Riding high after holding on for a one-run victory, the Chicago Cubs will try to build some much-needed momentum when they host the Florida Marlins in the third of a four-game series at Wrigley Field on Saturday. The Cubs rode eight shutout innings from Ryan Dempster to a 2-1 win Friday, which snapped the Marlins' six-game win streak. Both Chicago runs scored on an error by Florida second baseman Omar Infante.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, FS Florida, CS Chicago

PITCHING MATCHUPS: Marlins RH Javier Vazquez (5-8, 5.23 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Carlos Zambrano (6-4, 4.34).

After getting off to an ugly start (3-6 with a 7.09 ERA through June 11), Vazquez has settled down a bit with five consecutive quality starts. He has allowed seven runs - four earned - in his last 30 1/3 innings, including a strong seven-inning win July 8 against Houston (six hits, two unearned runs). Vazquez has had mixed results in his 18 career starts against the Cubs, going 5-4 with a 4.60 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 107 2/3 innings. Chicago hitters are 24-for-118 (.203) against him with 35 strikeouts. Zambrano makes his return from the disabled list after injuring his back early in a June 30 start against San Francisco. He gave up one unearned run and struck out four in a rehab start at Class A Peoria on July 8. Zambrano has been up and down all season, but was effective in his last two starts before getting hurt, giving up five earned runs in 15 innings. He is 5-1 with a 3.01 ERA in 13 career games (11 starts) against the Marlins.

ABOUT THE MARLINS (44-49): Florida had outscored opponents 35-17 during its six-game win streak. But with the exception of a gift-wrapped ninth inning Thursday when Cubs relievers handed out six walks, the Marlins' offense has gone cold against a weak Chicago pitching staff, failing to score before the ninth inning in either game. That has made life tough on a pitching staff that has given up only 13 runs in the last six games - both runs Friday were unearned. Florida is 17-19 in one-run games this season, but 3-14 since the final weekend in May.

ABOUT THE CUBS (38-56): Though it still ranks among the worst in baseball in most statistical categories, Chicago's starting rotation has done well since the All-Star break. Matt Garza and Dempster have combined to hold Florida scoreless for 15 straight innings, and yielded only 10 hits. The bullpen remains shaky as closer Carlos Marmol has given up six runs in his last two-thirds of an inning, and has not struck out a batter in his last six appearances. Offensively, outfielder Marlon Byrd has provided a lift, going 9-for-23 (.391) over the last six games to raise his average to .307. He also threw out the potential tying run at second base in the ninth inning Friday.

FINAL PITCH: Though they rank sixth in the majors in batting average, the Cubs are 19th in on-base percentage largely because they have drawn the fewest walks (225) in baseball.