Silva's long layoff no concern for Cubs

HOUSTON - The Cubs don't seem worried about the long layoff Carlos Silva has had between starts.

They sent Silva to Pittsburgh on Sunday, ahead of the team, as he starts Monday afternoon's makeup game against the Pirates. Silva's last start was May 29, when he struck out 11 in a 5-0 win over the Cardinals that ran his record to 7-0.

Silva is a sinkerball pitcher, and sometimes, a long layoff can make them too strong, and the sinker won't sink.

Piniella also pointed out that Silva was ill with a stomach bug at the beginning of the Astros series and that it would have been difficult for him to pitch over the weekend.

"We talked about it at length," said Piniella, referring to him and pitching coach Larry Rothschild. "Larry thought that with Silva's command of the strike zone, it wouldn't bother him at all. It wouldn't hurt him at all. He's somebody that hasn't pitched in Pittsburgh. (Randy) Wells had just pitched 5 innings against them. (Ryan) Dempster's already pitched twice against Pittsburgh. (Ted) Lilly pitched the last time there. We did the best we could."

Feeling a draft: The amateur draft is Monday night. The Cubs pick 16th overall, and they'll make one selection Monday as the draft goes through Wednesday.

Baseball America projects the Cubs taking Florida high school righty Karsten Whitson ahead of another Florida righty, A.J. Cole.

At 16, however, it's too hard to predict, and Cubs scouting director Tim Wilken has been known to surprise. His No. 1 picks from last year back to 2006 were outfielder Brett Jackson, pitcher Andrew Cashner, third baseman Josh Vitters and outfielder Tyler Colvin.

"At this point, I have pretty decent comfort level coming into it," Wilken said. "As far as what might land at our spot, at 16, I kind of like the depth 2-5. After that point, it might become a little thin. I'm quite a bit more comfortable than I've been in various other drafts.

"I don't think it's overwhelming, punch-you-in-the-face ability, but I think it's solid ability. There is some right-handed pitching. There's OK outfield depth."

All quiet: Lou Piniella says he has not heard any trade talk internally involving first baseman Derrek Lee. There is one area Piniella says the Cubs would like to address.

"We're still looking for somebody that we can go to late in the game on a consistent basis from the right side," he said, referring to bullpen help. "Outside of that, we just play better on the field on consistent basis, we'll be fine. But we are still looking for that commodity."

Heading out: Lefty reliever John Grabow has left for a rehab assignment at Class AAA Iowa. He went on the disabled list May 31 with a sprained left knee.