Rothschild keeps 'em busy

MILWAUKEE - Cubs pitching coach Larry Rothschild was a busy guy, even with the Cubs having a couple of days off.

Rothschild said he did his best to keep his pitchers, especially the relievers, fresh while the Cubs waited to see when and where the games against the Astros would be played.

"Friday, I brought a lot of the relievers out who hadn't been in games, and they threw sim (simulated) games," Rothschild said Sunday. "That's the best we could do this time of year to have them face hitters. The starters have done their regular sides and a little more, probably."

The Cubs will send lefty Ted Lilly against the Astros this afternoon, keeping him on his regular rest.

Against the Brewers at Wrigley Field, beginning Tuesday, the Cubs will send right-handers Ryan Dempster, Jason Marquis and Rich Harden. Carrying out the rotation through the rest of the season, Harden would pitch the final game on Sept. 28 (provided the Cubs and Astros don't have to play on Sept. 29), setting the stage for Zambrano, Lilly and Dempster to go in the first three games of the National League division series, if the Cubs make the playoffs.

Gaudin a go? Reliever Chad Gaudin remains in Arizona nursing a sore lower back, but Larry Rothschild reported some progress.

"He threw a long-toss today (Sunday), and he's going to throw a side tomorrow, and we'll see how it is," Rothschild said.

Gaudin hasn't pitched since Aug. 29 because of lower-back soreness.

Voice of reason: Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster, a union rep along with pitcher Ted Lilly, took care of most of the player input on the makeup games with the Astros.

When told Miller Park isn't exactly a neutral site, Dempster had a quick response.

"Not too many places are," he said, noting the large number of Cubs fans that follow the team around the country.

"We went to St. Louis and played there, and there are a lot of Cubs fans there. We have a lot of people behind us no matter where we're playing. We don't look at it like that. The Astros came to our park and swept us, so I think it's a matter of playing the baseball games.

"At times, the fans can give you adrenaline or give you emotion. But at the same time, it comes down to the players executing what they need to do."

Down time doings: Cubs manager Lou Piniella said he didn't do much of anything over the two days the Cubs had off because of Hurricane Ike. A Saturday workout was rained out, so Piniella had time to catch up on his college-football watching.

First baseman Derrek Lee made it home to California to spend time with his family.