Lee looking forward to Zambrano's return

Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano will travel to Denver on Thursday and join the team Friday before the Cubs' series with the Rockies. Cubs manager Lous Piniella said Zambrano will address the team in a meeting before Friday's game in his return after a dugout argument with Derrek Lee more than a month ago.

Derrek Lee said he's looking forward to Zambrano's return.

"It will be good to put it behind us," he said. "I really don't think it's going to be a big issue. We'll welcome him back and move on."

He hopes that Zambrano apologizes to the team.

"We're looking forward to the apology," he said. "I think that's what needs to happen."

Piniella's perspective: Lou Piniella said he's not worried about Zambrano's rough outing for Iowa on Tuesday when he tossed 1 inning of relief in Albuquerque, giving up 3 hits and 3 runs while walking one, striking out one and hitting one.

"The reports were that he threw the ball better than the results," Cubs manager Lou Piniella told reporters in Houston. "(Iowa) should've turned a double-play ball, and (there were) a couple bloop singles. The reports were that he threw the ball better than the outcome and that's really what we're concerned about more than anything else.

"All he's doing is getting some work in here, getting some work in and throwing some pitches. I'm not concerned at all about him being ready. He'll come in and do the absolute best he can. The first thing is to talk to the team and clear that hurdle and we'll go from there.

"I think he'll be fine. I think the sessions that he's had will help him. I look forward to having him back and helping us win some baseball games down the stretch."

Day of rest: Cubs manager Lou Piniella rested starters Derrek Lee, Marlon Byrd and Alfonso Soriano on Wednesday, but Soriano pinch hit in the ninth inning. Catcher Geovany Soto was out of the lineup for the second straight day after leaving Monday's game in the sixth inning after fouling a ball off his left foot. He has a bruised foot, but Piniella said he should be ready to play Friday.

Associated Press contributed to this report.