Brewers-Cubs Preview

The Chicago Cubs want Alfonso Soriano to work out his hitting problems. Sam Fuld is doing his best to try to create a dilemma as to when Soriano will return to the lineup.

It remains to be seen who the Cubs will start in left field Friday when they continue their four-game series against the Brewers at Wrigley Field.

Chicago (38-38) has allowed the slumping Soriano to sit out the last two games as he tries to fix his swing. Soriano, who is 13 for 64 (.203) over his last 15 games, has been working with hitting coach Von Joshua over the last two days.

"It's just timing," Soriano told the Cubs' official Web site. "My swing is good, and it's just my timing. I'm working with (Joshua) every day. I hope I come back Friday and feel better."

The Cubs are eager to see Soriano look like the player that batted a combined .291 in his first two seasons with the club. He's at .230 now.

"We need Soriano to hit. Period," manager Lou Piniella said.

While the plan may be for Soriano to return soon, the unheralded Fuld has taken advantage by starting in left field and going 2 for 4 in each of the last two games. Fuld also scored two runs Thursday in a 9-5 win in the opener of this series.

Derrek Lee homered twice and drove in a career-high seven as Chicago won its second straight without Soriano.

"It makes it fun to hit when everyone is swinging the bats well. There are guys on base and pressure on the pitcher," Lee said. "Tonight is a great night, but we're right back here (Friday) at 1. ... So, turn the page."

Milwaukee (42-37) dropped its fourth straight road game, and fell into a virtual tie for first place in the NL Central with St. Louis. The fourth-place Cubs are 2 1/2 games back.

"This is an important series," Piniella said. "Derrek has been swinging the bat well now for awhile. You look up there and all of a sudden you see 14 home runs and 48 RBIs and around a .290 (.285) batting average. He's getting some runs in for us, which is important."

Lee is also 21 for 47 (.447) with four homers and nine RBIs in his career versus Jeff Suppan, who will start Friday for the Brewers.

Suppan (5-6, 4.86 ERA) seeks to avoid losing three straight starts in the same season for the first time since April 27-May 8, 2003 while with Pittsburgh. He gave up five runs over 5 2/3 innings Sunday in a 6-0 loss to San Francisco.

The right-hander is 1-4 with a 6.31 ERA over his last seven starts against the Cubs, including 0-2 with a 7.45 ERA in two outings this year.

The Cubs' Carlos Zambrano (4-3, 3.69 ERA) hasn't pitched poorly during his four-game winless stretch, going 0-1 with a 3.62 ERA. His worst outing in that span came Sunday against the Chicago White Sox when he gave up five runs over 5 1/3 innings in a 6-0 loss.

The Cubs have dropped six straight home starts by Zambrano against the Brewers, with the fiery right-hander going 0-2 with a 4.66 ERA. This is his second start of the year against Milwaukee after he gave up three runs over six innings April 11 and did not get a decision in a 6-5 home victory.

Milwaukee slugger Prince Fielder is 11 for 30 (.367) with five RBIs against Zambrano, but shortstop J.J. Hardy is 2 for 19 (.105).