--INF/OF Daryle Ward has a bulging disk in his lower back. Ward said he and the Cubs will wait until Sunday to see if exercises alleviate the problem. If they don't, Ward will have an injection and will go on the 15-day disabled list. Until then, Ward remains available to pinch-hit. If the Cubs have to put Ward on the DL, their first choice for a minor league call-up appears to be INF-OF Micah Hoffpauir, who is at Class AAA Iowa. Hoffpauir hit well as a non-roster invitee to spring training.
--LF Alfonso Soriano has led off three consecutive games with hits. He singled to start Thursday's 4-0 victory over the Padres. In the previous two games, he led off with home runs. Over his last six games, Soriano is 12-for-24 with two doubles, three homers and seven RBIs. --1B Derrek Lee snapped an 0-for-12 slump with a two-run double in the fourth inning Thursday.
--RHP Ryan Dempster turned in the longest outing by a Cubs starting pitcher this year, going 8 1/3 innings in a 4-0 victory over the Padres. It was the first time Dempster had thrown eight or more innings since he pitched a complete game on April 8, 2003 against Houston, when Dempster was with Cincinnati. Dempster is 5-1 with a 2.35 ERA.
--RF Kosuke Fukudome hit a single and walked twice Thursday. He has reached base in 34 of his 40 games and has a .426 on-base percentage.
--Rookie RHP Sean Gallagher makes his second career start Friday against Pittsburgh. Gallagher started Sunday against Arizona, going 4 1/3 innings and giving up four runs and five hits.
BY THE NUMBERS: 168 -- The Cubs took 168 walks into this week (36 games). At that pace, they would draw 756 bases on balls for the season. The club record is 650, set in 1975. This trend continues to be a marked departure for a team that valued free-swinging. The Cubs now are balancing aggressiveness and selectivity. The Cubs had 113 walks through 36 games last year.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I was a little scared because it's a little cold, but I think I'm OK. I just want to feel comfortable with my legs." -- Soriano on continuing to be cautious with his legs.
