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Alfonso Soriano connected on seven homers over the Cubs' 8-2 homestand.

GOOD FISHING

By David Bearman, ESPN Research

Could this finally be the year? It's been 100 seasons since the Cubs last called themselves world champions. Imagine the party in Wrigleyville in October if the Cubs win the World Series title exactly 100 years after the franchise's last one? The way they are playing these days, it looks possible.

MONDAY NIGHT BASEBALL

• Cubs at Astros, 7:05 p.m. ET, ESPN

As the weather warms up in Chicago, so too has the baseball team on the North Side. The Cubs took two of three from the Pirates. It was the third consecutive series win for the Cubs, who finished an 8-2 homestand, their best in 30 years. The last time the Cubs won eight of 10 on a homestand was June 2-11, 1978. Considering it's been 100 years since that last world title, 30 years might not seem like that long ago.

Confines friendly during homestand
W-L	Batting average	Runs per game	ERA
8-2	.303	6	3.10

So, how are the Cubs 10 games over .500 and owners of the second-best record in the majors? For starters, they lead the NL in batting average and runs scored, and they have the third-best ERA in the NL. The Cubs have outscored their opponents by 71 runs this season, the largest margin in baseball. Carlos Zambrano and Ryan Dempster both have ERAs under 2.50, and Kerry Wood has held the bullpen together with 10 saves.

Now, add a healthy Alfonso Soriano to the lineup. Soriano, who hit .192 in April, went 21-for-40 (.525) on the homestand, raising his average from .188 to .296. He also had seven home runs and 16 RBIs. He had two-homer games on Friday and Saturday, helping the Cubs win for the 11th time in 12 games against Pittsburgh.

Soriano heating up (last 10 games)
Batting average	Home runs	RBIs	Strikeouts
.525	7	16	5

The Cubs now head out on a six-game road trip, but they do as the hottest team -- with perhaps the hottest player -- in baseball.

Past Baseball Tonight Clubhouses: May 15 | May 14 | May 13 | May 12 | May 11 | May 8

FORWARD THINKING: MONDAY

• Cubs at Astros, 7:05 p.m. ET ESPN: Ted Lilly (4-4, 5.33 ERA) has been strong over the first three innings of games, but opponents are hitting .316 against him in the fourth inning and .346 in the fifth. Brian Moehler (1-0, 4.58 ERA) is making just his third start of the season. He has not gone longer than five innings in either of his previous two starts.

• Rays at A's, 10:05 p.m. ET: James Shields (4-3, 3.05 ERA) has allowed only seven hits and two runs over his past two outings. He's also struck out 14 against two walks. Joe Blanton (2-6, 3.69 ERA) has given up two earned runs in each of his past four starts, yet is 2-2 in those outings.

• Cardinals at Padres, 10:05 p.m. ET: Todd Wellemeyer (4-1, 3.27 ERA) is handling the transition to the starting rotation well. Over his past three starts, he has allowed three runs in 18 innings while posting a 2-0 record. Wilfredo Ledezma (0-0, 2.63 ERA) came on in relief after Jake Peavy lasted just four innings in his past start. Now, Ledezma is taking Peavy's spot with the righty forced to miss an outing because of soreness in his pitching elbow.

• Complete list of pitching probables for Monday's games