Cubs thin on lefties as Eyre heads to DL

The Cubs gave it only one day before deciding to put left-handed reliever Scott Eyre on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left groin. The move is retroactive to Friday.

To fill's Eyre's spot, the Cubs recalled right-handed reliever Jose Ascanio from Class AAA Iowa.

"The team doctor and our trainer felt that he couldn't do much for seven days," manager Lou Piniella said of Eyre. "It's been a day or two already. We'll just DL him.

"We get a little fresh arm in the bullpen. We're a little short-handed. We've had some short starts here over the last rotation turn, and he gives us a fresh arm."

The move leaves Neal Cotts as the lone lefty in the pen.

"Better than none," Piniella said. "But what are we going to do? Ascanio isn't going to be able to pitch for a while."

The meaning of that last part was unclear, especially since Ascanio warmed up Saturday. But Ascanio pitched June 14 and then not again until Thursday because of a death in the family. So he may still be rusty.

Theriot comes clean: Shortstop Ryan Theriot admitted Saturday he has a minor hand injury. That's why he was kept out of Friday's lineup, as well, even though the Cubs said he was getting a day off.

It turns out Theriot has some swelling near his right thumb, the result of being jammed. Manager Lou Piniella originally was skittish about saying anything for fear of other teams exploiting Theriot.

"Theriot's not playing," Piniella said. "He's got a bruise on his hand, some swelling, and it's getting better."

How did he do it?

"How'd he do it?" Piniella asked back. "I'd prefer not to say."

Piniella was told teammate Mark DeRosa was kidding Theriot about being jammed.

"Well, if he said it, basically, I'll concur, but I wasn't going to say that," Piniella said. "We've had so many people banged up that we're playing it cautious with him. I think another day will do him good. They've got a left-hander going tomorrow, so we want to make sure he can play. So we'll get him in there tomorrow."

Theriot was wearing a bandage.

"It's the hand area," Theriot said. "It's the hand area, and it's fine. That's it."

DeRosa kiddingly accused Theriot of "sitting on" his .317 batting average.

"He's trying to make his first All-Star Game," DeRosa said.

Injury updates: Oufielders Alfonso Soriano and Reed Johnson both ran on the bases Saturday morning, and Carlos Zambrano pitched on the outfield grass.

"Good," Zambrano said. "That's all I've got for you. Tomorrow, I'll throw my side, and I'll let you know."

Zambrano, who is on the DL with a strained right shoulder, will throw a bullpen session today. If that goes well, he could come off the DL Friday to pitch the series opener in St. Louis.

Johnson (back spasms) looks ready to come off the DL Thursday. Soriano, who has a broken left hand, is able to do some strength exercises without his splint. He said the hand is weak from inactivity and that he's not sure when he'll pick up a bat. He's been on the DL since June 12, and the Cubs hope he can be ready before the original six-week timetable.