(My Sportsbook) - A big reason behind the Chicago Cubs' 2008 National League Central title makes his season debut this afternoon, as Rich Harden takes the ball for the first time in 2009 against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.

Harden was picked up midseason from the Oakland Athletics and dominated NL batters, going 5-1 with a stellar 1.77 earned run average in 12 regular- season starts. He was 10-2 combined with a 2.07 ERA and 181 strikeouts in 148 innings - his most since the 2004 season.

The 27-year-old right-hander's talent has never been questioned, but his ability to stay on the field has. Last year he served an early stint on the disabled list because of a strained right shoulder and also missed time down the stretch. In all, he has been on the disabled list six times in his five- plus major league seasons.

Harden has faced the Brewers twice and is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA against them.

Chicago enters this series on the heels of taking two of three games from the Houston Astros. On Wednesday, Aramis Ramirez went 4-for-6 with a double and four RBI to lead the Cubs to an 11-6 win in the rubber match at Minute Maid Park.

Mike Fontenot clobbered a three-run homer and added an RBI single for the Cubs, while Kosuke Fukudome drilled a solo shot as part of a four-hit, four- run performance as Chicago picked up season-opening series win since 2003.

Cubs starter Ted Lilly (1-0) gave up four home runs in five innings, but still came away with the win.

The Cubs will likely not have reigning NL Rookie of the Year Geovany Soto in the lineup for this series opener, as the 26-year-old backstop is expected to miss today's tilt with a sore shoulder. Soto, who hit .285 with 23 home runs and 86 RBI last season, sat out Wednesday's contest for the Cubs and could miss this entire series.

Milwaukee, meanwhile, gets the home portion of its schedule underway today after starting the year with losses in two of its first three games in San Francisco, including a 7-1 setback on Thursday at AT&T Park.

Manny Parra (0-1) was shouldered with the loss after surrendering five runs on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts over 4 1/3 frames. Jason Kendall drove in the lone run for the Brewers.

The game featured also featured a scary moment when Brewers center fielder Mike Cameron lined a shot back up the middle, hitting Giants reliever Joe Martinez in the head. Martinez walked off under his own power with his forehead cut and his right eye swollen, and was taken to a hospital for a CT scan and evaluation.

Cameron has reached base in 10 of his 13 plate appearances (six walks, four hits) this season.

Hoping to get the Brew Crew back in the win column this afternoon will be new acquisition Braden Looper, who signed a one-year deal with the club shortly before spring training. A former short reliever, the righty won 12 games in each of the past two seasons for the rival St. Louis Cardinals upon making the switch to a starter.

Looper, who had a setback during spring training because of an oblique injury, was 12-14 with a 4.16 ERA for the Cards a year ago. In four starts against the Cubs a year ago, Looper was 0-3 with a 3.24 ERA.

Lifetime, he is 3-6 with a 2.61 ERA against Chicago with a 2.61 ERA in 40 games (8 starts).

Chicago won nine of its 16 meetings with the Brewers last season, including five of the seven matchups held in Milwaukee.