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CHC@ATL: Francisco battles Garza for 16 pitches

In what could be one of Matt Garza's last starts with the Cubs, he can seal a three-game sweep of the D-backs.

Garza is scheduled to start at home against Arizona opposite another righty, Trevor Cahill, with the Trade Deadline two weeks away. The Cubs are certain to be sellers, and Garza is likely to bring them one of their biggest hauls.

"It's not a position you want to be in. I think certainly there's ways you can improve the organization by being in that position, but it's frustrating because it means your record's not very good," Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said. "It also means the players being asked about are good players, and neither one of those [scenarios] is a positive. So when you're in this situation, you think you have to do the best thing for the organization and then you just hope that you're not there very often."

Garza's last outing came on July 5 and was his shortest of the year. The Braves won, 7-3, and tagged Garza for five runs and three homers. He said then that the rumors weren't getting to him.

"It doesn't affect what I do on the mound," said Garza, who threw 44 pitches in the first inning. "I still have to grab the ball and throw it for strikes. Like I've said before, I've been in trade rumors since my pro career started. It's more frustrating to go out there and let your boys stand around for 50 pitches in an inning. That's not good for anybody."

Cahill ended a two-game losing streak in his last start, a 5-3 win against the Padres on July 7. He's made one career start at Wrigley Field, and it didn't go particularly well: Cahill allowed four runs in 5 2/3 innings back in 2010.

The D-backs are dealing with their own trade rumors about Justin Upton. Lifetime, Upton is 2-for-7 with a double, an RBI and three strikeouts against Garza.

"A lot of clubs are probably like us, kind of still trying to wait until the very end to figure out where you're at," D-backs general manager Kevin Towers said. "A lot can happen in a couple of weeks. You could have a big winning streak, you could have a big losing streak and it could change things."

D-backs: Corbin sent down for Saunders
• The D-backs optioned left-hander Patrick Corbin to Triple-A Reno to make room for the activation of Saturday's starter, Joe Saunders (left shoulder tightness).

Corbin will return to being a starter, after pitching in relief in the Majors. The team didn't want him to pitch back-to-back days in the Majors.

"We really like the kid a lot," manager Kirk Gibson said. "He's got a great future."

Cubs: Top prospects sit on horizon
• The Cubs' Nos. 2 and 10 prospects in MLB.com's rankings, outfielder Brett Jackson and third baseman Josh Vitters, are likely to see big league action this season -- although GM Jed Hoyer made no promises.

"Those guys need to force the issue, I would say," Hoyer said. "Like we talked about with [Anthony] Rizzo, when they sort of really prove to us that they're ready and make it clear, then I think that's something we'll see."

Worth noting
• With a win on Sunday, the Cubs can even the season series with the D-backs at three games apiece.

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