Big Z's return from suspension delayed by rain

Provided Carlos Zambrano made it from the Cubs clubhouse in Atlanta to the team bus to the charter fight, he'll have his return to the rotation delayed by one day.

The Cubs and Braves were rained out Thursday night, with the makeup game scheduled for Monday, June 22, when the Cubs were supposed to travel from Chicago to Detroit.

Zambrano, who was suspended for six games, was slated to start Thursday, but he and the Cubs will have to wait until tonight at the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. The suspension was for Zambrano's antics on the field last week when he was ejected from a game for disputing a play at home plate. Earlier this week, he missed the team charter from Chicago to Atlanta, a situation the Cubs say they handled "internally."

Thursday's rainout changes the Cubs' pitching plans for the weekend series against the Reds. The major effect is that left-hander Sean Marshall gets knocked out of Saturday's scheduled start and will be available for bullpen duty in Cincinnati and in Houston next week.

Ryan Dempster will move from today to Saturday, and rookie right-hander Randy Wells will stay on rotation and pitch Sunday's finale against the Reds. The Cubs said Ted Lilly, Zambrano and Dempster, respectively, will work the three games in Houston next Tuesday-Thursday.

There were developments on other fronts:

• The Cubs say they have no plans to put right fielder Milton Bradley on the disabled list. Bradley strained his right calf in Tuesday's series opener against the Braves. It's possible he could see pinch-hitting duties in Cincinnati.

• Koyie Hill was in Thursday's lineup at catcher ahead of the slumping Geovany Soto, who is batting .209. Hill started in place of Soto on Wednesday, and reports said Soto had a meeting with manager Lou Piniella in Piniella's office Thursday. Piniella told reporters he was giving Soto a "mental breather."

• Right-hander Rich Harden threw a bullpen session Thursday and will make a rehab start for Class AAA Iowa on Sunday. If that goes well, Harden will come off the DL next Friday to pitch against the Twins at Wrigley Field. Harden has been on the DL since May 22 (retroactive to May 18) with a mid-back strain.

• Third baseman Aramis Ramirez, who may be out for at least another month with a dislocated left shoulder, reportedly will begin "baseball activities" this weekend in Cincinnati. Ramirez hurt himself diving for a groundball in Milwaukee on May 8.