(My Sportsbook) - Hard-throwing Venezuelan Carlos Zambrano looks for a third consecutive quality start when the Chicago Cubs meet the St. Louis Cardinals today in game two of a four-game series between National League Central Division rivals at Wrigley Field.

The Cardinals defeated Chicago, 7-4, in the series opener on Thursday and lead the second-place Cubs by two games in the early-season divisional race.

A 6-foot-5, 255-pounder who'll make $18.75 million this season, Zambrano opened with a 4-2 defeat at Houston on April 6 before a no decision at Milwaukee five days later in the Cubs' 6-5 win.

In the two starts, the right-hander has allowed 12 hits and four runs in 12 innings.

Zambrano faced St. Louis three times in 2008 and was 1-2 with a 12.75 earned run average, giving up 20 hits and 17 runs in 12 innings.

The Cardinals will go with youth on the mound in the form of right-hander P.J. Walters, who's making his major-league debut.

The 6-foot-4, 200-pound product of the University of South Alabama is getting his chance at the majors as a result of an injury to staff ace Chris Carpenter, who injured a rib cage muscle in a start earlier this week.

The Dothan, Ala. native turned 24 years old on March 12.

In Thursday's series opener, Chris Duncan had three hits, including a two-run homer and drove in three runs as St. Louis got by Chicago.

Brian Barden had three hits, among them a solo home run, while Khalil Greene also homered in the win for St. Louis, which has started the season with eight wins in the first 11 games.

Cardinals outfielder Ryan Ludwick extended a hit streak dating back to last season to 19 games with an RBI single.

St. Louis starter Adam Wainwright (2-0) gave up six hits and four runs, walking four and recording six strikeouts over six frames to earn the win.

Ryan Franklin picked up his second save in as many opportunities, fanning two in a perfect ninth, in an attempt to resolve the Cardinals' unsettled closer's role. Kyle McClellan hurled two perfect frames as the bridge to Franklin.

Kosuke Fukudome doubled and hit a three-run home run for the Cubs, who lost their second straight outing.

Sean Marshall made his 2009 debut as a starter for Chicago, lasting five innings and surrendering three runs on seven hits and two walks while fanning four. David Patton (0-1) received the loss after being charged with two runs on consecutive two-out RBI singles to Yadier Molina and Duncan in the decisive seventh.

The defending NL Central champion Cubs won nine of 15 meetings with the division-rival Cards in 2008, including four of six tilts held in Wrigley. Since 2006, St. Louis has gone just 7-17 as the visitor in this series.