Subpar performances from some of their expected contributors have played a big part in the Chicago Cubs' discouraging season.
One of those disappointing players has been Carlos Zambrano.
The Cubs right-hander, however, still has an opportunity to end this year in positive fashion and will attempt to win back-to-back starts Tuesday night against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers.
Following consecutive NL Central titles, Chicago (74-68) has been out of this year's race for the last two months as St. Louis has pulled away. The Cubs are currently 9 1/2 games back of the rival Cardinals.
Zambrano (8-6, 3.77 ERA) has shown his usual histrionics and had troubles staying healthy this season, but wins have been harder to come by. He entered this year with six consecutive 13-win seasons but will fall short of that mark with four scheduled starts remaining.
"It's been miserable," he said. "I think I only have to win. This is my first year I've been so poor in the second half. (I'm) just trying to finish the season strong."
Even after his first victory in seven weeks Wednesday in Pittsburgh, Zambrano was again at the center of controversy.
In an 8-5 win over the Pirates, he and manager Lou Piniella argued on the mound when he was pulled in the seventh inning, and the animated discussion continued in the dugout.
Zambrano will try to put that behind him with another strong outing against the Brewers (69-74). He's posted a 1.32 ERA in his last five starts versus Milwaukee dating back to the start of last season, but has only one win in that span -- on July 29, 2008 at Miller Park.
Zambrano will also attempt to beat the Brewers at Wrigley for the first time since June 28, 2005, and lead the Cubs to their seventh win in eight games.
With Monday's 2-0 victory, Chicago improved to 4-1 at home against the Brewers and 7-4 overall. Derrek Lee homered for the second time in as many games and moved within three RBIs of reaching 100 for the second time in his career.
He had 107 RBIs in 2005 and has 33 homers for the first time since hitting 46 that same season.
The Cubs and Brewers reached the playoffs last season but are left to go for franchise milestones this year.
Chicago is trying for three straight winning seasons for the first time since a six-year run from 1967-72. Milwaukee is attempting to record three consecutive winning years for the first time since 1978-80.
Milwaukee, though, is 5-8 this month and scheduled starter Yovani Gallardo (12-11, 3.59), is 2-4 with a 5.13 ERA in his last seven starts.
Gallardo, who last year tore his ACL at Wrigley and missed most of 2008, hasn't started since losing to San Francisco on Sept. 5 as the Brewers are trying to limit the right-hander's workload.
"I don't want to be shut down. I want to finish out the year strong," he told the team's official Web site. "We're trying to find ways to make that happen. It's somewhat of a compromise."
Gallardo earned his first win over the Cubs on May 9, allowing two runs over five innings in a 12-6 home victory.