NAMES AND NUMBERS

Former Dodger Mike Morgan lost his first two starts with the Chicago Cubs, emerging with an 8.71 earned-run average, but the Cubs have won 11 of his last 12 starts and Morgan has a personal-best seven-game winning streak with a 1.93 ERA over his last five starts. He is 7-0 in his career at Wrigley Field, with a 1.41 ERA.

“He’s been a great investment,” Manager Jim Lefebvre said. “He keeps giving us quality innings.”

Felipe Alou said that his appointment as manager of the Montreal Expos would not mean more playing time for his son, Moises, but it has. A shoulder injury that sidelined left fielder Ivan Calderon for the season opened the door, and the young Alou is in to stay.

He played in 23 of the first 28 games his father managed, and in his last 22 starts through Thursday batted .313 with 20 runs batted in and three home runs.

Said Dad: “There’s not much he can’t do. I wonder where he gets it from?”

Is there any doubt that the touted Atlanta Braves’ rotation has shaken the rust of April? In Atlanta’s 21-3 run before a weekend series at Cincinnati, the starters were 16-1 with a 1.75 ERA.

Steve Avery was 4-0 with a 0.92 ERA in five starts; Tom Glavine, 5-0, 2.11 in six; John Smoltz, 4-1, 3.18 in six; Charlie Leibrandt, 2-0, 1.33 in four; Mike Bielecki, 1-0, 1.27 in three.