Scouting: Athletics @ Cubs

TV: Comcast SportsNet Tuesday and Thursday; Channel 9 Wednesday

Radio: WGN 720-AM

Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Carlos Zambrano (2-4) vs. Trevor Cahill (5-2) Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.; Ryan Dempster (4-5) vs. Gio Gonzalez (6-4) Wednesday at 7:05 p.m.; Randy Wells (3-5) vs. Dallas Braden (4-6) Thursday at 1:20 p.m.

At a glance: These teams have met only once in regular-season play, in 2004 at Wrigley Field. The A's are 32-33, and they entered Monday 4 games behind Texas in the AL West. On Sunday, the A's designated former Cub Jake Fox for assignment. Ex-Cubs reliever Michael Wuertz is 2-0 with a 5.73 and a 1.55 WHIP. Former Cubs farmhand Jerry Blevins also is in the Oakland bullpen. The Cubs have not won a series of more than one game since beating the Dodgers two of three in late May. The Cubs will miss old rival Ben Sheets in this series. Kevin Kouzmanoff has 6 homers for Oakland, and Kurt Suzuki has 8. Marlon Byrd is 6-for-16 vs. Braden.

Next: Los Angeles Angels at Wrigley Field, Friday-Sunday