05/20/2005 6:30 PM ET
Cubs aim to even score with White Sox
White Sox (30-12) at Cubs (18-21), 12:20 p.m. CT
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
The Chicago Cubs want Carlos Zambrano to focus on his pitching, not his hitting.
On Saturday, Zambrano will start for the Cubs and face the Chicago White Sox in the second game of this three-game Interleague series. He had to leave his last start against Washington because of tennis elbow, which the Cubs believe is a non-pitching injury and related to too much batting practice.
Zambrano has a career 2-1 record and 3.86 ERA against the White Sox, and faced them twice last year.
The White Sox will counter with Jose Contreras, who has never faced the Cubs. However, Contreras is no stranger to Interleague play. He made five Interleague starts last year.
After losing Friday's series opener, 5-1, The Cubs now trail the crosstown Interleague series against the White Sox, 23-20.
"It's a normal game for us. We know what's at stake here," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "We've got one down. We've got five to go."
Pitching matchup
CWS: RHP Jose Contreras
• 1-1, 3.52 ERA in 2005
• Has never faced CHC
CHC: RHP Carlos Zambrano
• 3-2, 4.09 ERA in 2005
• 1-1, 3.65 ERA in 2004 vs. CWS
Player to watch
Henry Blanco may get another start if Michael Barrett can't go. Barrett is bothered by a sore right shoulder. Blanco has made 10 starts so far.
Quotable
"They wanted to make sure that once I came back here I didn't suffer a setback. If it was my choice, I would have been out of there my second outing [at Triple-A Iowa], but I think in the long run, it's the best thing." -- Cubs pitcher Joe Borowski, who was activated from the disabled list Friday and pitched one inning
interleague 2005
Complete coverage >
On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes
On television
• CWS: Fox
• CHC: Fox
On radio
• CWS: ESPN 1000 AM
• CHC: WGN 720 AM
Quick hits
Jeromy Burnitz is 0-for-3 and Jerry Hairston Jr. is 2-for-5 against Contreras lifetime. ... Joe Crede is 1-for-12 lifetime against Zambrano and Scott Podsednik is 4-for-17. ... Borowski was activated from the disabled list and infielder Mike Fontenot sent to Triple-A Iowa on Friday. Borowski made his first appearance since June 4, 2004.
On deck
• Sunday: vs. White Sox, 1:20 p.m. CT
• Monday: vs. Astros, 7:05 p.m. CT
• Tuesday: vs. Astros, 7:05 p.m. CT
• Wednesday: vs. Astros, 6:05 p.m. CT
Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.