SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Standing a season-high five games over .500, the surging Chicago Cubs open a three-game series against baseball's worst team, the Florida Marlins, tonight. The Cubs defeated the Atlanta Braves, 5-1, Sunday and took three of four games in the series. Chicago won six of seven games on a road trip that began with a three-game sweep of the Marlins. The Cubs have won nine of their last 12 contests. Chicago will have the services of outfielder Glenallen Hill tonight. Hill, who was activated from the disabled list Sunday, was off to a fast start before getting injured, batting .452 with five home runs and 15 RBI in 15 games. Jon Lieber (4-1, 3.40) faces the Marlins for the second time in six days. The righthander gave up six runs -- four earned -- and nine hits over 5 2/3 innings in a no-decision Wednesday. Before that outing, Lieber had allowed just three runs in his previous two starts, spanning 16 innings. Lieber is 2-1 lifetime against Florida. The Marlins have lost four of their last six games but are 7-9 since opening the season 6-22. Coming off a dismal outing in his last appearance, Jesus Sanchez (1-4, 6.75 ERA) gets the ball for Florida. The lefthander recorded just two outs while allowing four runs and three hits but escaped with a no-decision in the Marlins' 8-7 loss to the Cubs on Wednesday. Sanchez has pitched past the fifth inning only three times in nine starts this season. The Cubs have won five of six games against the Marlins this year and 12 of the last 15 meetings over the last two seasons.  