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Kevin McAlpin covers the Phillies for 97.5 The Fanatic.  You can follow him on Twitter (@KevinMcAlpin)

The Phillies haven't exactly come out of the All-Star Break firing on all cylinders.  The Phillies have dropped their first two games at Wrigley despite Ryan Howard's three home runs.  Yesterday, Shane Victorino also notched his career-best 15th long ball of the season.  Despite their struggles, the Phils enter play Saturday just five-and-a-half games out of first place in the division and two games out of the Wild Card.  

This afternoon, Cole Hamels (7-7, 3.78) takes the mound as the Phillies look to avoid a three-game losing streak.  Hamels hasn't faced the Cubs since August, 2008 but enters 3-1 lifetime against Chicago.  In his last outing, Cole tossed seven-and-two-thirds shut out ball last Sunday as the Phillies completed the four-game sweep of the Reds.  This season, lefties are hitting just .179 combined off Hamels, which ties him for third-lowest in the League.  The Cubs will counter with Randy Wells (4-7, 4.61) who's 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA in the month of July.  For Wells, the months of May and June weren't all that kind, as the 27-year-old righty was a dreadful 0-6 with an ERA close to 6 in 11 starts.  

Today, the Phillies could get a key member of their infield back, as Placido Polanco is expected to be activated from the disabled list.  Polanco has missed the past 18 games with inflammation in his left elbow.  In his absence the Phillies offense is a woeful .233.  Yesterday, Jayson Werth was called out on strikes three times and the Phillies combined for just four hits.  With Polanco's return, the Phillies will have an interesting roster move.  Greg Dobbs has swung the bat much better than he did prior to being designated for assignment.  Cody Ransom has stepped in nicely and flashed solid leather at third and was the one who hit the huge game-tying home run in the Phillies six run, ninth inning come back last Friday.