Chicago @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 12, 2011 ) Chi. Cubs 4, Atlanta 10

THE STORY: With Dan Uggla's hitting streak at 32 games, Atlanta looks for its sixth straight victory when it hosts the Chicago Cubs on Saturday in the second of a three-game series. Uggla hit a pair of solo home runs - two of the five homers allowed by Chicago starter Carlos Zambrano - in Atlanta's 10-4 victory Friday.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), PTV, SportSouth (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Randy Wells (3-4, 6.05) vs. Braves RH Derek Lowe (7-10, 4.78)

2011 has not been kind to Wells, who has two quality starts in his last four outings but was shelled his last time out, giving up six runs (including three home runs) in seven innings against Cincinnati on August 7. He has fared much better in the past against the Braves, going 2-1 with a 2.88 ERA in four career starts, but Wells has a 6.90 ERA in road games this season.

Lowe delivered a quality start (6 IP, 2 ER) in an August 8 win at Florida, but it was his first such outing since the end of June. In his five previous starts, Lowe had been tagged for 22 runs in 26 1/3 innings, losing four of the five. The veteran righthander is 3-1 with a 3.56 ERA in 10 career starts against Chicago, but most of his best work — including a one-hit shutout in 2005 — is long behind him. Cubs LF Alfonso Soriano is 14-for-59 (.237) against Lowe with three home runs but 15 strikeouts.

ABOUT THE CUBS (51-68): Chicago came into Atlanta playing every bit as well as the streaking Braves, winning nine of 11 games before Friday. The Cubs have had trouble all season preventing teams from scoring runs, ranking near the bottom of the major leagues in nearly every pitching category and committing 96 errors, tied for the most in baseball. An inconsistent lineup has been performing well of late, led by shortstop Starlin Castro (.309, 7 HRs, 54 RBIs). Carlos Peña has 22 home runs, leading a group of three Chicago hitters with 20 or more (Aramis Ramirez 21, Alfonso Soriano 20).

ABOUT THE BRAVES (70-49): Wild-card leader Atlanta certainly wasn't hurting for offense Friday, but it has been pitching that has carried the Braves all season long. The club ranks fourth in the major leagues in ERA, led by ace righthander Jair Jurrjens (12-4, 2.63) and Tim Hudson (12-7, 3.18). Setup men Eric O'Flaherty (21 holds, 1.02) and Jonny Venters (6-1, 24 holds, 1.20) have been excellent in front of closer Craig Kimbrel (36 saves, 1.87). Uggla (.229, 26 HRs, 60 RBIs) was batting a paltry .173 before his streak.

FINAL PITCH: Zambrano was ejected in the fifth inning Friday after throwing two inside pitches to Chipper Jones. Following the game, Zambrano cleaned out his locker and told team personnel he is considering retirement.