And the Cubs figure to deal for a starting pitcher before the trade deadline, as they already were looking into doing so before Zambrano’s injury. The list begins with C.C. Sabathia, and A.J. Burnett figures to be very high on it as well, as the Cubs may not have enough to win the anticipated Sabathia bidding war.

White Sox
In a sweep of the Pirates leading into the Cubs series, the White Sox won by 16-8, 8-2 and 13-8 margins. So much for concern that sprung from a punchless 1-5 stretch against Detroit and Colorado that preceded Pittsburgh’s arrival on the South Side.

And as the weather has warmed at U.S. Cellular, so has a White Sox offense that was the target of one of manager Ozzie Guillen’s rants a few weeks back. This month, they are averaging 7.2 runs per game, and have reached double figures five times, and it doesn’t seem to matter that Paul Konerko is at .215 and on the disabled list with an oblique strain. An added bonus is that in Konerko’s absence, Nick Swisher has gotten out of center field — where he didn’t belong — and moved back to first base.

Jim Thome and Swisher modestly have raised their averages from around .200 to around .230, and Cuban defector Alexei Ramirez has caught fire since becoming a regular second baseman in mid-May. As a result, the Sox have risen from near the bottom to fifth in the league in runs, first in home runs.

Slideshow   The Week in Sports Pictures A kayaker flips out, a racehorse eyes the Triple Crown and more. more photos

What hasn’t changed all season is a White Sox staff that is second to none in the AL. Only Oakland and Tampa Bay are within one-half run of the Sox’s league-leading team ERA. Six of seven Sox relievers have ERAs of 3.34 and below, and GM Kenny Williams’ deals for emerging starters Jon Danks and Gavin Floyd look so much better than when they were consummated.

Still, more doubts remain about the Sox’s chances of staying on top than about the Cubs’. Maybe that’s because the preseason AL Central favorite Detroit Tigers finally have broken from an early season funk, and are within reach of .500 and a serious challenge with just more than half a season remaining.

But first will come two showdown weekends for some closer-to-home bragging rights.