Piniella doesn't expect any blockbuster deals
ST. LOUIS -- To hear Cubs manager Lou Piniella tell it, the Cubs will hit the homestretch essentially with the club that's on the field now.
Even though general manager Jim Hendry would like to "tinker" with the roster before the July 31 nonwaiver trading deadline, Piniella indicated Thursday the changes won't be drastic.
"I don't know how we get better," Piniella said. "I think what you see here is probably what's going to be here. I don't see many more changes. I don't really see us doing much at the trading deadline."
Piniella cited one key factor for success the rest of the way.
"What need to do, basically, it's important that we stay healthy, especially in our rotation," he said. "We're thin there. Probably the next (pitcher) would be another young kid, (Sean) Gallagher."
Piniella added that the Cubs are keeping an eye on Matt Murton at Class AAA Iowa. Murton began the season as the starting left fielder, but he was sent to the minor leagues June 13.
In Wednesday's 18-8 victory over Colorado Springs, Murton went 4-for-6 with a grand slam and a double. In 10 games leading up to Thursday, Murton was batting .425 with 3 homers and 10 RBI.
Piniella prefaced his remarks by saying he didn't think the Cubs would make a trade "just to make a trade."
"We're looking at Murton; he's starting to swing the bat well at Triple-A again," Piniella said.
Wood workings: The Cubs will have a better idea in the next couple of days where Kerry Wood stands in his attempted comeback from a torn right rotator cuff.
Wood pitched Thursday night for Class A Peoria, and he's scheduled to go again tonight in his first back-to back appearances of the season. On Thursday, Wood pitched 1 inning, giving up 1 hit and no runs. He threw 12 pitches, 9 for strikes. He struck out two of the four batters he faced.
The Cubs would like to add their former starting ace to the bullpen before the season is over.
"It's a first, probably, real step toward seeing where we're really at as far as the time frame," said general manager Jim Hendry. "Woody knows. He's been through this enough to temper the enthusiasm of how well it's going. Once you go back to back and you feel good the next day, then you can readjust and maybe look at it a little differently as far as what it might take to get him here.
"The day after will be just as important or more important than the actual event (tonight)."
Not Miller time: The Cubs got poor reports on Wade Miller's rehab outing Wednesday for Class AA Tennessee. In other words, the stuff was as bad as the numbers indicated. Miller, who is rehabbing a shoulder injury, gave up 7 runs on 6 hits while walking two and striking out six in 3 innings of relief. The velocity on Miller's fastball is said to be only in the mid-80s (mph).
More minor matters: Center fielder Felix Pie went 4-for-6 with a triple in Iowa's rout of Colorado Springs on Wednesday. Catcher Geovany Soto fell a double shy of the cycle as he went 3-for-5.
Lefty Neal Cotts, who opened the season with the Cubs, worked 1ˆº scoreless innings of relief, allowing 1 hit while walking two and striking out three.
Scouting report
Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park
TV: Comcast SportsNet-Plus (CLTV) today; Comcast SportsNet Saturday; Channel 9 Sunday
Radio: WGN 720-AM
Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Rich Hill (6-6) vs. Bronson Arroyo (4-11) today at 6:10 p.m.; Sean Marshall (4-4) vs. Aaron Harang (10-2) Saturday at 6:10 p.m.; Carlos Zambrano (13-7) vs. Matt Belisle (5-7) Sunday at 12:15 p.m.
At a glance: The Cubs are 2-4 against the Reds this year, 1-2 at Cincinnati. Reds star Ken Griffey Jr. has 588 career homers after connecting in Thursday's victory over the Brewers. Keep an eye on Harang on Saturday; he pitched 10 innings in Monday's victory vs. the Brewers. Griffey is 9-for-21 with 2 homers against Zambrano, who has allowed 6 homers to Adam Dunn. Aramis Ramirez is 7-for-20 vs. Arroyo.
Next: Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field, Monday-Thursday
-- Bruce Miles