The Rays will try to complete a sweep tonight against the major-league best Cubs, and if they do so, could set several club marks:

With a win, Tampa Bay would set a club record with wins before the All Star break (43), earn a sweep for the first time against a team with MLB's best record, a club-best five home sweeps in a season.

To do so, they'll need a good night from RHP James Shields, who is amped and ready to go after sitting out his six game suspension from the Red Sox brawl.

Other than signing top pick Tim Beckham, other pre-game news was kind of light. Carlos Pena continues to feel better in his rehab of a broken finger in his left hand; he played catch today and took some more one-handed swings. No real updates other than he'll get re-evaluated Sunday.

The Cubs remain a little banged up. Their ace, Carlos Zambrano, is expected to miss his next start at least with his shoulder discomfort, but there won't likely be any update on his test results until tommorrow. Lou Piniella said Jim Edmonds could be available to pinch-hit if necessary.

Cubs

Fukudome, CF
Theriot, SS
Lee, 1B
Ramirez, 3B
Soto, DH
Hoffpauir, LF
DeRosa, RF
Blanco, C
Fontenot, 2B

Gallagher, P

Rays:
Iwamura, 2B
Crawford, LF
Upton, CF
Hinske, RF
Longoria, 3B
Floyd, DH
Aybar, 1B
Navarro, C
Bartlett, SS

Shields, P

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com