Cubs scouting report

By Bruce Miles

Cubs vs. Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium

TV: WGN Friday and Saturday; Comcast SportsNet Sunday

Radio: WGN 720-AM

Pitching matchups: The Cubs’ Ryan Dempster (5-6) vs. Bruce Chen (4-1) Friday at 7:10 p.m.; Carlos Zambrano (6-4) vs. Danny Duffy (1-2) Saturday at 6:10 p.m.; Randy Wells (1-1) vs. Luke Hochevar (4-7) Sunday at 1:10 p.m.

At a glance: The Cubs are 9-6 all time against the Royals. Their last trip to Kansas City came in 2000. The Royals’ Chen is a lefty who has been tough on right-handed batters, such as the Cubs’ Reed Johnson (1-for-16), so Cubs manager Mike Quade made do some interesting mixing and matching. The Royals entered Thursday’s game against Arizona last in the American League Central, but they have a host of intriguing young players, such as first baseman Eric Hosmer and third baseman Mike Moustakas.

Next: Colorado Rockies at Wrigley Field, Monday