Another Day of Injury News

The Cubs spent Monday trying to sort through another mixed bag of injury news.

The word on ace right-hander Carlos Zambrano seemed good. Zambrano, who is on the disabled list with lower back spasms, underwent an MRI on Sunday in Chicago, and manager Lou Piniella said the results were no worse than what an MRI showed in 2006, basically confirming the spasms.

Doctors did administer an epidural injection to Zambrano to lessen the effects of the spasms. Piniella said Zambrano would remain on a "program" to rehab the back with the hope that Zambrano can come off the DL sometime next week.

Third baseman Aramis Ramirez sat again with lingering soreness from the dislocated left shoulder he suffered in May. That injury kept Ramirez out for two months.

The Cubs said Ramirez will see a doctor in Chicago Tuesday when the Cubs return home. Ramirez had to come out of Friday night's game early because the shoulder hurt him. He did not appear in a game after that and the Cubs did not rule out a possible DL stint.

ROCKIES 11, CUBS 5: The Cubs allowed two runs in the first and four in the second. LHP Tom Gorzelanny allowed six runs and six hits before leaving in the second with a bruised right foot, the result of a batted ball. The Cubs stranded 13 runners.

NOTES

--RHP Jeff Samardzija will make his first major league start Wednesday when he starts against the Phillies and Pedro Martinez at Wrigley Field. Samardzija is starting in the spot of Zambrano.

--LHP Ted Lilly will make a minor league rehab appearance Wednesday for Class A Peoria. Lilly is on the mend from left knee surgery and from left shoulder inflammation. He went on the DL July 25, and the Cubs hope he is able to return sometime next week.

--RHP Esmailin Caridad was brought up from Class AAA Iowa to bolster the bullpen, and RHP Jeff Stevens was sent down to Iowa. Caridad was 5-10 with a 4.15 ERA at Iowa in 23 games, all starts. He relieved Gorzelanny in the second inning after Gorzelanny was hit on the right foot by a batted ball. He suffered a bruise. Caridad worked 5 1/3 innings.

--RF Milton Bradley leads the team with a .401 on-base percentage. He singled, walked, grounded out and struck out twice.

--C Geovany Soto's homer in the sixth inning was his first hit since he came off the DL last Friday. Soto had been out with a strained left oblique. He went 0-for-7 in his first two games back before sitting out Sunday. It was Soto's first homer since July 2.