August slate looms large

If the Cubs want to win the National League Central Division, they must take advantage of the fact that 19 of their 28 games in August will be played at Wrigley Field, according to manager Lou Piniella.

The August slate is a sharp contrast to September, when the Cubs will play 16 of 25 games on the road, including the final seven games of the season.

The Cubs are 38-13 at home this season, 22-30 on the road.

"I've said many times I like our team, but I also know the teams behind us are playing darn good baseball, especially the Brewers," Piniella said. "We're going to have to make some hay in August because in September we start moving around a lot to end up our season with seven games away from home in New York and Milwaukee, which is not the easiest thing."

The first 12 home games in August come against division opponents, beginning with a nine-game homestand against Pittsburgh, Houston and St. Louis.

"It's going to be a fun August for our fans and, hopefully, we'll get nice and healthy and be up to the challenge," Piniella said.

Pitch counting: With closer Kerry Wood not expected back until Tuesday in Milwaukee at the earliest, the starting staff will be asked to work deeper into ballgames.

"I've been letting them go a little longer lately, and that's a byproduct of what's been happening in our bullpen," manager Lou Piniella said. "(Thursday) night we let Zambrano go 125 pitches. Lilly went 7 innings the other day in Arizona. Dempster has gone a little longer in games.

"We've taken care of them all summer, but at this point we're trying to win baseball games, and if it means that a starter's got to go out there another inning, that's all we can do.

"We'll find a way to shorten them back up again as soon as we get totally healthy, but right now just win baseball games. I'm not going to look at pitch counts as carefully as I was earlier."

Piniella excepted new acquisition Rich Harden, whose pitch count will remain under close scrutiny.

Edmonds gets rest: Jim Edmonds was held out of the starting lineup for the third straight game on Friday due to a sore right knee. Manager Lou Piniella said Edmonds did not have an MRI, only treatment, and expects to plug Edmonds back in the lineup this weekend.

Edmonds delivered a pinch-hit double in the eighth inning Friday before leaving for a pinch runner.