Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano will pitch out of the bullpen for Triple-A Iowa on Thursday. Zambrano arrived in Des Moines on Tuesday and was supposed to be available to pitch Wednesday night. Iowa manager Ryne Sandberg says Zambrano worked out Wednesday morning, but an Iowa Cubs spokeswoman says Zambrano won't be in uniform until Thursday because an undisclosed change in travel plans.

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Just like a long line of predecessors, Lou Piniella thought he could lead the Chicago Cubs to that elusive championship and end a drought that dates to 1908. Barring an epic turnaround, he can forget about that. General manager Jim Hendry will get another shot, though. New owner Tom Ricketts made that clear Tuesday, saying there won't be a change at the top after Piniella announced he's…

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Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella announced Tuesday that he will retire at the end of the season, ending an often colorful career that included 18 years in the majors as a player and another 22 as a manager. The 66-year-old Piniella said he was looking forward to spending more time with his family. "I've grown to love the city and the fans but at my age it will be time to enter a new phase…

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Catcher Jason Castro put his battery-mate at ease early in the game. Carlos Lee had a two-run double in a five-run first inning and Castro hit a three-run homer in the third to spot starter Wandy Rodriguez a big lead, and the Houston Astros beat the Chicago Cubs 11-5 on Monday night. Rodriguez (7-11) gave up five runs in six innings but earned the win because the Astros had an 8-0 lead after three…

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AccuScore uses past performance statistics to describe how players perform under different environmental,…

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Roy Halladay was more upset with the pitches that Geovany Soto and Alfonso Soriano drove out of the park than the ones that hit All-Star Marlon Byrd. Halladay plunked Byrd twice and gave up two-run homers to Soto and Soriano after each errant offering, sending the Chicago Cubs to an 11-6 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday night.

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Joey Votto, you rascal. The story about Votto of the Cincinnati Reds not liking the Chicago Cubs and not…

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A day earlier, Carlos Marmol was unhittable — three batters and three strikeouts. On Saturday, the Chicago Cubs closer who showed up was a different pitcher, a wild and ineffective one. The Philadelphia Phillies took advantage, scoring four runs in the ninth inning to beat the Cubs 4-1. Marmol issued five walks and threw a wild pitch while getting only two outs.

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With temperatures heating up, so is Aramis Ramirez's bat. Stuck in a slump most of the season, the Cubs' cleanup hitter is finally doing what he's been known for most of his career in Chicago — driving the ball and knocking in runs. Ramirez hit a solo homer with two outs in the bottom of the eighth Friday, sending the Cubs to a 4-3 comeback win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

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CINCINNATI – Reds first baseman Joey Votto says he shows his feelings about Chicago Cubs fans by refusing to sign autographs for them.

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