(Sports Network) - The way the Cubs have been pitching as of late, some have to wonder if they even need Rich Harden. Ted Lilly will try to turn in another solid outing from a Chicago starter this afternoon in the finale of a three- game series with the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs have won three straight and four of their last five. They have held their opponents to three runs or fewer in each of their last five games, with Lilly's start last time out the lone blemish.

With Harden set to make his club debut on Saturday versus the Giants, Lilly takes the hill having won each of his last four decisions over a span of six starts with a 3.23 earned run average in that time. He got a no-decision on Saturday against St. Louis despite giving up just two runs on seven hits over six innings. However, Chicago's bullpen allowed three runs on Saturday in defeat.

Lilly has rebounded to up his record to 9-5 on the season with a 4.47 ERA. He is just 1-2 with a 4.09 ERA in six career starts versus the Reds, taking a loss to the club on April 17 at home.

The 32-year-old left-hander allowed five runs on six hits in that one and was victimized by the Reds' Joey Votto, who went 2-for-3 with a double, homer and five RBI in that test.

Votto, though, could do nothing in Wednesday's 5-1 setback to the Cubs, as the Reds failed to solve Carlos Zambrano. Making his second start since a stint on the disabled list due to a shoulder ailment, Zambrano allowed just one run on one hit -- a homer by Adam Dunn -- over eight innings, fanning five while retiring the finale 20 batters faced.

Aramis Ramirez homered and doubled, driving in two runs, while Kosuke Fukudome and Derrek Lee had an RBI apiece to help the first-place Cubs move 4 1/2 games up on St. Louis in the NL Central standings.

The Cubs also won for the 17th time in their last nine home games, improving to 35-10 at Wrigley Field this year. Chicago leads the majors in home batting average (.310), runs scored (288) and RBI (270). It will also try to sweep the Reds in three games at Wrigley for the first time since May 22-24, 2001.

Dunn's homer was his 23rd of the season and he has reached base in each of his last 10 games. He is hitting .265 (9-for-34) with five homers, nine RBI and six walks in that span, and is 2-for-7 (.286) lifetime versus Lilly with a homer and two RBI. Brandon Phillips, who went 0-for-4 and had won of three Cincinnati errors yesterday, is 0-for-13 in his career against Lilly.

Bronson Arroyo goes for the Reds and has won two straight starts since allowed 10 runs in one inning of work in a loss to Toronto on June 24. After besting Cleveland five days later, he limited Washington to five hits over six shutout frames on Friday to improve to 6-7 on the season with a 5.82 ERA. He has a 7.17 ERA in 10 road starts this year, but is 2-3 with a 3.69 ERA in seven games (6 starts) at Wrigley all-time.

The 31-year-old righty is 4-6 with a 3.13 ERA in 13 starts and two relief outings in his career versus the Cubs.

Chicago has now won five of eight versus Cincinnati this year, with the Cubs winning two of three at home versus the Reds from April 15-17.