(Sports Network) - Kyle Lohse will come off the disabled list today in time to pitch the first contest of the St. Louis Cardinals' day-night doubleheader with the Chicago Cubs, an event that will wrap a three-day, four-game series between the teams at Wrigley Field.

Lohse hasn't pitched since June 3, when he lasted just two innings of a loss to the Reds before landing on the DL with a strained right forearm. However, the righty threw six scoreless innings at Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday and appears ready to go.

A 15-game winner last year, Lohse is 4-4 with a 3.99 earned run average in 10 starts. He is 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA in eight career starts versus the Cubs, getting a no-decision against them on April 18 after allowing four runs over five innings.

Right-hander Adam Wainwright will pitch the nightcap after throwing 243 pitches over his last two starts. He tossed nine innings without factoring into the decision of a game versus the Giants on July 1, then logged 8 1/3 scoreless innings in besting Milwaukee on Tuesday. He improved to 9-5 with a 3.09 ERA this year after limiting the Brewers to seven hits with nine strikeouts.

"We're going to give Wainwright the maximum amount of rest," Cards manager Tony La Russa told his team's Web site.

Wainwright has faced the Cubs three times already this year and is 2-0 with a 2.49 ERA against them. He last battled the club on May 21, picking up a win after 8 2/3 innings of one-run, seven-strikeout ball.

After pitching on short rest last time out, Carlos Zambrano could also use a few extra hours to recover, but he will start the first game for Chicago.

With Ryan Dempster landing on the disabled list earlier in the week, Zambrano took the hill on Tuesday versus the Braves with just three days between starts. He pitched well, allowing two runs over six innings, but suffered a 2-1 loss that dropped him to 4-4 with a 3.47 ERA this year.

Zambrano is just 1-2 in seven home starts this season and is 9-6 with a 3.52 ERA lifetime versus the Cardinals. The righty has faced them just once so far in 2009, allowing seven runs on nine hits -- including two homers by Ryan Ludwick and a solo shot by Brian Barden -- in a no-decision back on April 17.

After Zambrano gets another crack at St. Louis, Randy Wells will get things going for the Cubs at night. The right-hander went 0-3 with a 2.55 ERA over his first six starts, but has since won four straight starts, the first Chicago rookie to do that since Kerry Wood in 1998.

Wells' latest victory came on Monday against Atlanta, as he allowed two runs over six innings. He has never started versus St. Louis, facing them just once before in relief.

The Cardinals took the opener of this set on Friday, their fourth straight win in the season series, before the Cubs rebounded with a 5-2 victory on Saturday. The win pulled Chicago to within 3 1/2 games of first-place St. Louis in the National League Central standings. Milwaukee is two games off the pace.

Ted Lilly threw eight innings of one-run ball to earn his 100th career victory. Jeff Baker added two hits and a pair of RBI in the win as well.

Chicago did see Derrek Lee exit in the sixth inning due to neck stiffness and though he missed time earlier this year with a neck ailment, Lee says he should be ready to go today.

"I'm good," Lee, who is hitting .281 with 17 homers, told Chicago's Web site. "I'll be in the lineup [Sunday]."

The Cubs improved to 5-4 on their first-half ending 11-game homestand, while the Cardinals dipped to 5-3 on their respective road trip. Ludwick and Yadier Molina each drove in a run in yesterday's loss, just St. Louis' second in six games.

The Cardinals still lead the 2009 season series with Chicago, 7-4.