The race for first place in the NL Central gets the spotlight on Sunday, as both the Cubs and the Brewers send their aces to the hill.
Chicago starts Carlos Zambrano (12-4, 2.80) on Sunday, as the Cubs finish off their three-game series with the Pirates. The Big Z dominated the Brewers in his last start, tossing eight shutout innings while racking up nine strikeouts. In two starts against the Pirates this season Zambrano is 1-0 with a 4.91 ERA. Making the start for Pittsburgh on Sunday will be Ian Snell (4-8, 6.04). Snell earned his first win since early June in his last start after giving up four runs in seven innings against Colorado. In his only start against the Cubs this season Snell took the loss after surrendering three runs in six innings.
The Brewers need a better outing from ace Ben Sheets (10-4, 3.14) against Atlanta on Sunday if they hope to keep from falling even farther behind the Cubs in the Central standings. Sheets was lit up for six runs on five hits in five innings against Chicago in his last start. The last time Sheets faced the Braves back in June he pitched a complete-game four-hitter in which he allowed only one run while striking out seven. Jorge Campillo (5-4, 2.76) gets the start for the Braves on Sunday. Campillo delivered another quality start in his last outing against St. Louis when he held the Cards to two runs in seven innings to pick up a no-decision. Campillo faced Milwaukee back in June and earned a win after allowing two runs on four hits in seven strong innings.
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The other team in the running in the Central, the Cardinals, take on Philadelphia on Sunday with Todd Wellemeyer (8-4, 4.13) on the mound. Wellemeyer settled for a no-decision against Atlanta in his last start after allowing two runs in six innings. He was roughed up for eight runs in 3 1-3 innings in his last start against the Phillies. Brett Myers (4-9, 5.46) will start for Philadelphia on Sunday. Myers looked good last time out in his second start since returning from the minors, holding Washington to one unearned run in seven innings.