Aramis Ramirez is expected to return to the Cubs lineup Friday, but Derrek Lee says too much is being made of Ramirez’s absence.
The Cubs are 25-17 when Ramirez starts at third base, and 33-38 when he’s not in the lineup.
“We’re putting too much on ‘Rami,'” Lee said. “Jake Fox has done a great job while he has been in there, so we can’t put it all on Rami. We have to play better, whether he’s in there or he’s not. We’ve had injuries all year and we’re not going to lean on that [as an excuse]. We have to find a way to play through them.”
Rotation watch: Ted Lilly felt good the day after his minor league rehab stint in Peoria and is on track to return to the Cubs on Monday in San Diego.
“We’ll see,” he said. “It’s about results. I definitely feel that I’m ready. Just got to go out there and get it done.”
Carlos Zambrano’s return date is unknown. Zambrano avoided the media again Thursday, as he has done since suffering his back injury. The Cubs need Lilly and Zambrano to pitch at their old levels when they return.
“It should give you a boost,” manager Lou Piniella said of the pitchers’ return. “I mean, get back to strength-wise, starting pitching.”
Extra innings: One day after getting pounded in his first major league start, Jeff Samardzija was optioned to Triple-A Iowa, where he likely will remain until the rosters expand in September. Justin Berg was called up and pitched two scoreless innings in his major league debut. … Jeff Baker went 2-for-2 Thursday and is hitting .579 (11-for-19) in his last five games to earn more time at second base.
