Piniella's rotation set for stretch drive

If the season comes down to Game 163 against Milwaukee to determine who advances to the playoffs, the Cubs starter for that game will be ... Jason Marquis.

That was among the nuggets Cubs manager Lou Piniella provided Wednesday as he unveiled what his rotation will be -- with one notable exception -- for the stretch drive.

"The 27th (of September) is the only day that's open and we've got choices," Piniella said. "Outside of that, our rotation is set for the rest of the season."

For the upcoming Pittsburgh series, Marquis will go Friday, followed by Rich Hill on Saturday and Carlos Zambrano.

After an off-day Monday, Ted Lilly pitches Tuesday in Florida, followed by Marquis and undecided on Thursday.

The regular season closes with a three-game set in Cincinnati in which Piniella plans to start Hill, Zambrano and Lilly.

"Lilly, the next time out he gets his sixth day because his turn comes on an off-day," Piniella said. "And by pitching him (Wednesday), he gets 2 more starts this year. If we didn't, he'd only get 1 more.

"I know there have been people concerned about us going with a three-man rotation, but if they looked at the entire schedule and a possible playoff, they'd see why we did it."

A Ward winner: That perpetual smile on Daryle Ward's face isn't just for show; this guy is simply loving every minute of his first year with the Cubs. And believe it or not, he wasn't sure he would.

"When I was on other teams coming in here, I thought it would kind of (stink) having to play a bunch of day games, but actually it's been the most fun I've ever had," said Ward, who has seen action in the outfield, at first base and has been used mainly as a pinch hitter. "It's because of the guys I'm surrounded by."

And the 40,000 or so who show up every game at Wrigley Field.

"It's been crazy," he said. "Sometimes (Lou Piniella) wants to tell you something from in the dugout and you're standing up on the top step and you can't hear him because the fans are so loud and all you can see are his lips moving.

"It's exciting for us."

Getaway day: After finishing up a stretch of 24 games in 23 days, the Cubs are more than ready for a day off today.

"We need one," Lou Piniella said before Wednesday's game. "The off-day will be really good. We've played a lot of baseball. It's been real rough but, look, I'm not complaining about that.

"We need to post a win (Wednesday) and enjoy a day off tomorrow."

Dunn gone deep: Thanks to his monstrous solo homer to right in the fourth inning, outfielder Adam Dunn became the first Reds player to hit at least 40 homers in four straight seasons.

He said it: Mark DeRosa, if he second-guessed the decision to start Carlos Zambrano on Tuesday: "No. I wanted Carlos on the mound. Period. I want him on the mound every day. If we get him in a one-day playoff, I want him on the mound then, too. That's no disrespect to (the rest of the staff). Carlos is our ace. That's the guy you want on the mound."