Game Seventy-Five: Cubs (36-38) vs. Pirates (36-41)
Game Time - 6:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet Plus - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 184
Location - PNC Park, Pittsburgh

Randy Wells (2-3, 2.57/1.09) vs. Virgil Vasquez (1-0, 3.00/1.00)

June is over and hopefully the Cubs will be able to turn on the offense with the flip of the calendar. Lou Piniella's crew enters play tonight in fourth place in the central, 4 1/2 back of the Brewers, and just a game and a half ahead of the last place Pirates. The Cubs need a win in the worst way but more importantly they need to start playing more consistently and quit trying to win 10 games in one night.

The Cubs difficult 10-game road trip that began with the makeup in Atlanta on June 22 concludes tonight ... the Cubs have won only twice in the first nine games.

After tonight the Cubs fly home for a huge four-game series against the Brewers ... and they must not overlook the Battling Bucs. The Cubs have won three of the first five contests against the Pirates this season and while many think the Pirates are mailing in the 2009 season, someone forgot to tell them that on Tuesday night.

The Cubs will start to get a little healthier over the next few days. Aramis Ramirez, Reed Johnson and Angel Guzman are expected back ... and if the Cubs can pull off a few wins in the meantime their return might not be for not.

While the offense must do their job against Virgil Vasquez ... it all starts with Randy Wells and one win at a time.