Hart back in a hurry

Kevin Hart didn't get too far away.

After being optioned to Class AAA Iowa on Monday, Hart was recalled Tuesday because of the broken toe suffered by pitcher Ryan Dempster.

"I went back to the hotel last night before the game and just got some dinner," said Hart, who will start this afternoon's series finale against the Braves.

Hart was going to take off and meet the Iowa club, but he got a call from pitching coach Larry Rothschild telling him his services were needed at Wrigley Field.

"It's good to be back," he said. "It's unfortunate that something like that always happens, especially to a guy that's a staple of this rotation."

Hart was 0-0 with a 1.59 ERA in 4 relief appearances with the Cubs. When he was called up June 21, he was working in Iowa's starting rotation, so he's plenty "stretched out."

At Iowa, he was 3-3 with a 3.10 ERA in 22 games, including 6 starts.

"I always feel good as a starter," he said. "I started my whole minor-league career. The first time I ever pitched out of the bullpen was '07 when I got called up here. I'll make the adjustment, whatever they need."

The Cubs have two rookies in the rotation: Hart and Randy Wells. Manager Lou Piniella says it's likely Hart will stay in the rotation while Dempster is out, depending on how he pitches.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for this young man, too," Piniella said. "Since they put him in the rotation in Iowa, he's flourished, and really, really pitched well."

Farm aid: The Cubs are making good use of their Iowa farm club. Randy Wells, Bobby Scales, Andres Blanco, Sam Fuld, Jeff Samardzija, Jake Fox and Jose Ascanio all have come up and contributed to some degree.

Now, it's Kevin Hart's turn again.

"It's been awesome to watch," Hart said. "Watching Jake come up and watching Randy come up and watching them do what they do, I think it really is a testament to what we have in our minor-league organization, for guys to step in and be able to do what they've done."