Scouting report: Cubs vs. O's

At Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Day...Time...TV...Starters

Tonight 7:05 CSN Shawn Estes (5-5, 5.67)

vs. Pat Hentgen (1-3, 5.25)

Tomorrow 7:05 CSN Matt Clement (3-6, 4.61)

vs. Omar Daal (4-6, 4.91)

Thursday 7:05 CSN Carlos Zambrano (5-5, 3.05)

vs. Rick Helling (3-4, 6.13)

Radio: All games on WBAL (1090 AM)

Cubs update

With or without Sammy Sosa, the Chicago Cubs will be a formidable foe for the Orioles. They went 6-6 on their recent homestand, taking two of three from the New York Yankees this past weekend, and sit one game behind the first-place Houston Astros in the National League Central. The Orioles catch a huge break missing Kerry Wood and Mark Prior in this series, but the Cubs boast three other quality starters in Estes, Clement and Zambrano. Estes has lost his past two starts, but he was 4-0 with a 3.06 ERA in five starts before that. Clement has been inconsistent, but when he's on, he's good. He has allowed two earned runs or fewer in six of his 11 starts. Zambrano, who turned 22 last week, is emerging as another terrific young pitcher. He has given up just four home runs in 79 2/3 innings.