Cubs-Phillies series preview

The Cubs would like to forget a disastrous road trip to Colorado, while a series against the defending World Series champion Phillies could prove equally difficult.

The Cubs (58-52) and Phillies (61-48) start a three-game series Tuesday at Wrigley Field. The series will provide one of the toughest tests at home for the Cubs, who are 33-19 at home but lost two out of three games to Philadelphia in July.

The next six games mark the Cubs' only home games between July 31 and August 23, so it will be important for Lou Piniella's club to win series against the Phillies and Pirates. The Cubs are in a 23-game stretch that includes 17 games on the road, where the Cubs are a paltry 25-33.

Despite losing three out of four games to the Rockies, the Cubs remain within striking distance of the first-place St. Louis Cardinals at three games back. Rich Harden, who is 2-1 with a 1.80 ERA in his last five starts, will receive the first test against the power-packed Phillies.

The Phillies rank first in the National League with 150 home runs, which is 23 more than the next-closest team. The Cubs rank fourth in the league with 123 home runs.

Here is a look at the scheduled starting pitchers for the series.

Tuesday: 7:05 p.m., CSN
RHP Rich Harden (7-7, 4.41) vs. LHP J.A. Happ (8-2, 2.74)

Wednesday: 7:05 p.m., WGN/ESPN
RHP Jeff Samardzija (1-1, 6.29) vs. RHP Pedro Martinez (0-0, 0.00)

Thursday: 1:20 p.m., CSN
RHP Ryan Dempster (6-5, 4.04) vs. LHP Cliff Lee (2-0, 1.13)

All games will be broadcast on the radio on WGN-AM 720.

-Tom Musick