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(Sports Network) - Carlos Zambrano will try to stay perfect at home this season when he leads the Chicago Cubs in the second test of a three-game series versus the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field.

Zambrano has taken the Wrigley mound 12 times this season and is 6-0 with a 2.25 earned run average in front of the home crowd. Zambrano is 2-0 in his last three starts overall and has won four of his previous five decisions. He did not factor in the outcome of an 8-5 win over Pittsburgh the last time out on August 3, as he yielded a pair of runs -- one earned -- in five innings.

The fiery right-hander, who has helped the Cubs to a 5-1 mark in his past six outings, will face St. Louis for the second time this season. Zambrano beat the Cardinals on July 4 at Busch Stadium with six shutout innings of four-hit ball in a 2-1 victory. Zambrano is 9-4 with a 2.26 earned run average in 20 career games (19) starts in this series.

Chicago has won three in a row, five of six and 10 of its last 12 games to grab a five-game lead over Milwaukee in the NL Central division. It opened this series with St. Louis by recording a 3-2 victory in 11 innings, as Henry Blanco singled home the game-winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning.

Bob Howry was credited with the win by throwing a scoreless inning of relief behind starter Ted Lilly, who took a no decision after allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks through 7 1/3 innings. Jim Edmonds connected on two solo home runs against his former employer.

The Cubs have the best record in the National League at 70-46.

St. Louis has dropped two in a row and four of its last six games to fall two games behind Milwaukee for the NL wild card lead and seven games back of the Cubs in the Central standings.

Cardinals starter Braden Looper received a no-decision for his seven-inning effort, surrendering a pair of runs on six hits. Closer Ryan Franklin was saddled with the loss for giving up Blanco's game-winning hit. Adam Kennedy and Joe Mather each had two hits and an RBI in a losing effort.

Getting the call for the Red Birds on Saturday will be Todd Wellemeyer, who is 8-4 with a 4.01 earned run average in 22 starts this season. Wellemeyer is 1-0 over his last five trips to the mound, with the Cardinals going 2-3 over that stretch.

Wellemeyer has recorded three straight no-decisions, including an August 3 performance versus the Philadelphia Phillies. In a 5-4 loss to the Phils, Wellemeyer tossed six strong innings of one-run, four-hit ball.

The righty, who is 2-0 in 10 away starts this season, lost to Chicago on July 6 this season at Busch Stadium after yielding three runs and nine hits through five innings of work. Wellemeyer is 1-1 with a 4.09 earned run average in three career games, two of which were starts, against the Cubs.

Chicago leads the 2008 season series with St. Louis by a 4-3 count. The Cubs were 11-5 against the Cardinals last season.