C Steve Clevenger continues to rehab at Class AAA (Des Moines) Iowa from an oblique injury. He has been on the DL, retroactive to April 26, and he’s likely to play until the middle of next week at Iowa before the Cubs evaluate him.
RHP Ryan Dempster again was the tough-luck loser, pitching 7 1/3 innings and giving up seven hits and one run. He’s now 0-3 with a 2.14 ERA. Dempster has not won a decision since Aug. 11 of last year, a span of 17 starts. The Cubs have lost 10 in a row as a team to fall to 15-30. “It’s hard for us,” Dempster said. “Ten games in a row is not a lot of fun. It doesn’t make coming to the ballpark fun. It doesn’t make going out there and playing fun. We’ve just got to fight through it.”
3B Ian Stewart was a lineup scratch Friday because of a sore left wrist. He’s day to day.
IF/OF Joe Mather figures to get more playing time in the near future. Mather, who made the team as a non-roster man out of spring training, started in center field on Friday. He also has started at third base and left field. He was 2-for-4 against the Pirates and now is hitting .293. “Right now, for a little while, I’m going to commit to Mather and see what happens,” manager Dale Sveum said. Mather will either start for Ian Stewart at third base or play in place of Tony Campana in center as the Cubs search for offense.
RHP Carlos Marmol is on a minor league rehab stint at Class AAA (Des Moines) Iowa. He pitched one inning Friday, giving up one hit and no runs while throwing 16 pitches. Marmol has been on the disabled list since May 12 with a strained right hamstring. He could rejoin the team Monday or Tuesday at home. But the former closer will not be reinserted immediately into his old job, which he lost before being injured. The Cubs will stick with rookie RHP Rafael Dolis as their closer.
