Reds-Cubs Preview

In the span of four years, Dusty Baker went from the toast of Chicago's North Side to being run out of town.

Now the manager of the Cincinnati Reds, Baker makes his return to Wrigley Field on Tuesday when his new team opens a three-game series against the Cubs.

After Chicago (7-5) finished fifth or worst in the NL Central three of the four years before his arrival, Baker immediately made the Cubs a winner. In his first season with Chicago, Baker led the 2003 Cubs to the division title and within five outs of their first World Series appearance since 1945.

In 2004, Baker led the Cubs to consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 1971-72, but he was unable to lead Chicago back to the postseason. In his final season with the Cubs in 2006, Chicago finished a NL-worst 66-96.

Baker received criticism for overusing young starters Kerry Wood and Mark Prior and for getting in a feud with the Cubs' TV broadcasters. However, he was also responsible for changing the image of the Cubs from "lovable losers" to playoff contenders.

"We're in a situation now in this organization where we're trying to win championships, and I think he played a big part in that," Wood told the team's official Web site.

Baker's successor Lou Piniella, who managed the Reds to their last World Series title in 1990, led the Cubs to the 2007 Central Division title before getting swept in the NLDS by Arizona. Piniella is now trying to lead Chicago to back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time since 1907-08 -- the franchise's only two teams to win the World Series.

Although there is a lot of hoopla surrounding Baker's return, Chicago's main focus is beating its division rival.

"It's not us against Dusty," Cubs reliever Michael Wuertz said. "We have to get out there and play Cincinnati."

The Reds (6-7) are trying to get back on track after they were swept at Pittsburgh in a three-game weekend series, capped by Sunday's 9-1 loss.

Cincinnati scored only four runs in the series, while leaving 32 runners on base and batting .171 (6-of-35) with runners in scoring position.

"Nobody is very happy here about what happened here this weekend," Baker told the team's official Web site. "I think the off-day (Monday) is coming right on time so everybody can forget it and come back strong."

Cincinnati slugger Adam Dunn is only 6-for-36 (.167) with one homer this season. In 14 games against the Cubs last season, he went 10-for-51 (.196), but five of those hits were home runs. He also has three solo homers in his last five games at Wrigley, and is 3-for-6 with a double lifetime against Tuesday's scheduled starter Ryan Dempster (1-0, 0.69 ERA).

The Reds send Aaron Harang (1-1, 2.14) to the hill in the series opener, as he looks to build off his best start of the season.

On Thursday, Harang gave up one run, five hits and walked none in eight innings of a 4-1 win at Milwaukee.

The right-hander is 4-0 with a 4.65 ERA in eight career starts at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs defeated Philadelphia 6-5 in 10 innings Sunday to avoid a three-game sweep and conclude their road trip with a 4-2 record.

First baseman Derrek Lee should be excited about returning to Wrigley, where he is 10-for-25 (.400) with three home runs and three doubles in six games this season.

Dempster, who was the closer for the Cubs most of the past three seasons, has made a fluid transition into the starting rotation.

After allowing two runs and three hits in six innings of a 6-3 win over Milwaukee on April 3, he gave up just one hit in seven scoreless innings of Wednesday's 6-4, 15-inning win over Pittsburgh. The right-hander retired 20 of the final 21 batters he faced.

Dempster, who went 0-1 with one save and a 5.14 ERA in seven relief appearances versus Cincinnati last season, is looking forward to facing his former manager.

"(Baker) did a lot of great things for me and did good things for my career. I love Dusty -- he's a great guy, a super person, and a heck of a manager," Dempster said. "I just want him to lose his first game back, that's all, because I'm pitching."

These teams split their 18-game season series in 2007.