MILWAUKEE — Mark Prior will make his highly anticipated debut with the Chicago Cubs next Wednesday after only three starts at Triple-A.

        Prior, the second overall selection in the 2001 draft, will pitch at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates, giving a boost to the struggling Cubs. Chicago (13-26) came into the day with an eight-game losing streak.

        “I'm worried about the expectations that are going to be placed on Mark,” GM Andy MacPhail said. “It's a big step walking out there for the first time and then to bring him in when the team is struggling and have that kind of media attention that he's garnered through his career, it's going to be hard to meet those expectations.”

        Prior, considered by some the best college pitcher ever during his career at Southern California, was dominant in nine minor league starts. The 21-year-old right-hander was 5-2 with a 2.29 ERA in Double-A and Triple-A. He had 79 strikeouts in 51 innings.

        In three starts at Triple-A Iowa, Prior went 1-1 with a 1.65 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 16 1-3 innings.

        “I don't doubt that he'll go through some rough outings,” MacPhail said. “It's unfair to expect he'll dominant in the major leagues the way he's dominated in the minor leagues. But it's pretty evident that he's ready, and it's pretty evident that we can use him here.”

        Prior made an immediate impression on the Cubs during spring training.

        “You couldn't tell this guy was one of the most touted pitchers coming out of college the way he handled himself in spring training,” Cubs manager Don Baylor said. “He was willing to listen, to talk.

        “There's nothing I can tell him,” Baylor said. “He has to experience that first inning for himself, get his feet on the ground and let him pitch.”

Reds 7, Cards 3 Reds box, runs Reds' final game tickets sell out in under an hour Reds Q&A with John Fay Say it ain't so Armed for the long haul Handicapping the NL Central race Cinergy Countdown No. 27: Aug. 17, 2001 Clutch double ends Clark's 2-for-26 skid Down on the farms Pineda heats up in bullpen Reds chatter The week ahead Durazo's big night shatters team records Legislature approves Twins stadium bill Prior's debut Wednesday at Wrigley Field Selig says Brewers' bad season not hurting his crusade John Fay's MLB Power Rankings Louisville 4, Ottawa 1 NL roundup AL roundup Notes from Saturday's games

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Saturday's results

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