As of now, Ryan Dempster, Ted Lilly and Rich Harden will go in the series at St. Louis, which begins Tuesday. Thursday will be Harden's first start since Aug. 29. The Cubs have rested Harden's iffy right shoulder since then.

At Houston next weekend, the Cubs will send Jason Marquis, Carlos Zambrano and Dempster at the Astros. Zambrano has not pitched since last Tuesday, when he took himself out after five innings because of discomfort in his right shoulder. Tests turned up inflammation and rotator-cuff tendinitis.

The bottom line, according to Piniella, is for his top five starters to stay on rotation through the end of the season. If things hold, it sets up a possible playoff rotation of Zambrano, Dempster and Lilly in the first three games, if the Cubs make it.

REDS 4, CUBS 3: RHP Kerry Wood suffered his sixth blown save of the season as he allowed three runs in the ninth. A double by PH Chris Dickerson off SS Ronny Cedeno's glove brought in two to tie the game. Jolbert Caberera's RBI single won it for Cincinnati. LHP Sean Marshall turned in a quality start for the Cubs in a spot situation. He pitched six innings, giving up three hits and one run. The Cubs got scoreless relief from LHP Neal Cotts and RHP Carlos Marmol.