Piniella ponders rotation

PITTSBURGH -- Cubs manager Lou Piniella spent most of Sunday morning trying to map out his pitching rotation for the rest of the season.

Of immediate concern, Piniella said staff ace Carlos Zambrano probably would pitch Thursday's series finale at Houston.

"I'm trying to see how it works out, not for the next start, how it works out the best for the rest of the season," Piniella said. "The way it looks to me, he'll be pitching in Houston on the 13th, but let's not put that in stone yet."

Zambrano pitched and won Saturday night, and Piniella has toyed with the idea of giving him an extra day's rest and starting him Friday in the opener of a crucial series at St. Louis.

In the margin of his worksheet, Piniella had the name of rookie Kevin Hart written next to Zambrano's name. It's possible Hart could start Thursday, but the Cubs will have to be careful not to take any game for granted at this stage. On top of it, Hart worked 1½ innings in relief of Steve Trachsel in Sunday's 10-5 loss to the Pirates.

Ted Lilly works today's makeup game at Wrigley Field against the Cardinals. Jason Marquis and Rich Hill will start the first two games at Houston.

"It's complicated because the last nine games of the season, we have two days off, and a lot of these guys are falling on these days off," Piniella said. "I'm trying to maneuver around it and still give ourselves the best chance.

"I might have to have a nice dinner and a glass of wine thinking about it. We'll see what we do Thursday and Friday, and we're pretty well set up the rest of the way."

Piniella said he allowed Zambrano to go home Sunday to take care of some family matters.

Aches and pains: Lou Piniella said he toyed with starting the left-handed hitting Daryle Ward on Sunday against Pirates righty Matt Morris, but Ward is supposed to get fluid drained from his right knee today.

Mark DeRosa started at second base, but Piniella said he had to wait a long time Sunday morning to post a lineup because DeRosa's left wrist was sore from getting hit with a pitch Saturday.

Speaking of hit batters, the Cubs and their opponents have exchanged a few over the last two series, but Piniella saw nothing untoward about it.

Aramis Ramirez got hit on back-to-back days by the Dodgers. Cubs pitcher Rich Hill hit Juan Pierre.

The Pirates' Ronny Paulino got plunked Friday night. DeRosa and the Bucs' Nate McLouth were hit Saturday.

"I don't think so, I really don't," Piniella said of ill intent. "I really haven't noticed. I know back home against the Dodgers, we got hit a few times. I think we hit a player or two. I don't see anything of an intentional nature."

A home game? The Cubs come home to play a makeup game today (2:20 p.m.) against the Cardinals before heading back out on the road to Houston and St. Louis.

"It's almost an extension to the road trip is what it amounts to," Lou Piniella said. "What can you do? You've got to play it. It's on the schedule. It's a makeup game. No sense complaining about it.

"We've got to post wins now. I think that's really the important thing. Whoever they come against, we've just got to post wins."

Pirates 10, Cubs 5

At the plate: Jason Kendall hit a 2-run double in the second to put the Cubs ahead 2-0. Geovany Soto hit his first major-league home run, a solo shot in the seventh. Matt Murton went 2-for-4.

On the mound: Steve Trachsel, in his second start with the Cubs, lasted only 2 innings. After a perfect first, he gave up 6 runs on 6 hits in the second. Kevin Hart, Carmen Pignatiello and Sean Marshall all saw action in relief. Kerry Wood gave up 3 runs in the eighth as he failed to retire any of the four batters he faced.

-- Bruce Miles

Scouting report

Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field

TV: Channel 9

Radio: WGN 720-AM

Pitching matchup: The Cubs' Ted Lilly (14-7) vs. Joel Pineiro (4-2) at 2:20 p.m.

At a glance: This is a makeup of the Aug. 19 rainout. The Cubs are 7-4 against the Cardinals, 3-3 at Wrigley Field. The Cardinals were coming from Arizona and the Cubs from Pittsburgh. Lilly is 2-2 with a 2.67 ERA lifetime against the Cardinals in 4 starts. He's 1-2 with a 3.60 ERA against them this year. Pineiro is the latest reclamation project of Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan. St. Louis obtained Pineiro from Boston on July 31. Before being sent to the minors by the Red Sox, Pineiro had worked as a reliever. Pineiro beat the Cubs 3-1 on Aug. 20, going 5 innings and giving up 3 runs as the Cards won 6-4.

Next: Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park, Tuesday-Thursday

-- Bruce Miles