Shawon Dunston, who left Sunday`s game in the seventh inning with a sore right hand, was in the starting lineup Monday night against the Mets.
Dunston, who spent two months on the disabled list with a broken finger on his right hand, got jammed on a pitch from Montreal`s Bryn Smith.
”Shawon has to learn not to allow pitchers to see he is in pain. If he does, everybody will try to jam him,” said Cubs interim manager Frank Lucchesi.
The Cubs entered Monday night`s game 33-35 on the road this season. They were 28-52 last season.
The Cubs have hit 85 homers on the road this season, breaking by one the club record set in 1955. The Cubs lead the NL in homers with 195, but rank next to last in earned run average at 4.49.
Probables for the Philadelphia series: Wednesday, Les Lancaster (7-1) vs. Fred Toliver (1-1) and Thursday, Jamie Moyer (11-13) vs. Don Carman (10-10).
Rick Sutcliffe, who won his 16th game Sunday, said his right index finger is healed.
”We`re completely healed now and hopefully we can finish up the rest of the year pretty decent,” said Sutcliffe (16-8).
The Cubs hope to play the role of spoiler against NL East contenders New York, Montreal and St. Louis in the remaining weeks of the season.
”When there are a lot of people in the ballpark, you know the game means something to more than just yourself,” said Sutcliffe.
Rookie Greg Maddux has replaced veteran Ed Lynch in the starting rotation. Lynch has complained about being shuttled from the bullpen to starting assignments.
”It`s not really fair to him (Lynch) to put him in the pen and then start him. But as the old saying goes, you have to do the job whether you`re a reliever or starter,” said pitching coach Herm Starrette. ”I know it`s an adjustment and we have done him that way because we felt he could do the job.”
Lynch has a 2-9 record and 5.18 earned run average.
”You can`t just take a guy who has been in relief for four months and then say: `Okay, five days from now you`re going to start. You`ll have plenty of time to re-adapt yourself.` It just doesn`t work that way,” said Lynch.
”I really haven`t been given that opportunity as the other starters have to get into some kind of groove and get my stuff together.”
