--RHP Carlos Zambrano threw 60 pitches at "100 percent" Sunday in the bullpen as his final test before coming off the DL. Zambrano has been on the shelf since June 19 because of a strained right shoulder. He proclaimed himself ready to start Friday at St. Louis.
--The Cubs placed LHP Scott Eyre on the DL Saturday with a strained left groin and recalled RHP Jose Ascanio from Class AAA Iowa (Des Moines). The move leaves the Cubs with one lefty in the bullpen, Neal Cotts. --SS Ryan Theriot has been slowed by swelling in his right-thumb area. He started Sunday after missing the first two games of the White Sox series. Theriot may have hurt his hand getting jammed at the plate.
--LF Alfonso Soriano has had additional X-rays taken of his broken left hand. He has been on the DL since June 12. He has been cleared to do strengthening exercises without a splint. He'll accompany the Cubs on their upcoming road trip to San Francisco and St. Louis but isn't sure when he can pick up a bat. He hopes to beat the original timetable of a total of six weeks off.
--LHP Ted Lilly, who starts Monday's series opener at San Francisco, has a 4.53 road ERA compared with 4.92 at Wrigley Field. He has allowed two or fewer runs in three of his last four road starts.
BY THE NUMBERS: 13 -- When C Geovany Soto hit his 13th home run of the season last Friday, he became the first Cubs rookie with at least 13 since Rafael Palmeiro hit 14 in 1987. The last Cubs rookie catcher with at least 13 was Randy Hundley, who hit 19 in 1966.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I guess 'Z' is back. I'm ready to rock and roll and get back to doing my job." -- Pitcher Carlos Zambrano, on his final preparations for coming off the DL.
