Fontenot gets call at third

Until Aramis Ramirez returns from his shoulder injury - probably around July 1 - Mike Fontenot is the Cubs' third baseman, even though he had never started a major-league game at that position before this season.

"Fontenot basically is our best third baseman," said Cubs manager Lou Piniella. "He's our best option over there."

Even though Fontenot entered Saturday's game hitting .095 against left-handers, he was still in the starting lineup against Dodgers southpaw Eric Stults. Fontenot drove in the first run of the game with a double off the center-field wall and plated another two innings later with a triple to the same area.

With Fontenot at third, that leaves Bobby Scales and Andres Blanco platooning at second base, where Fontenot started 144 games the previous two seasons.

"For now we're going to play Fontenot at third, and I'm going to play Scales and Blanco at second," Piniella said. "If I have to rest Theriot a little bit, Blanco does a real nice job at shortstop. When we face right-hand pitching, I think you'll see Blanco at second base, Theriot at shortstop and Fontenot at third."

Against lefties, the switch hitting Scales will play second.

Learning on the job: Jake Fox, who was called up from Triple-A Des Moines on May 27, remains a work in progress at third base.

In hindsight, it might have been a good idea to get him some minor-league experience at third as soon as Aramis Ramirez went down with a shoulder injury May 9, but it didn't happen. Fox played just one game at third with Des Moines, but he's been working overtime with bench coach Alan Trammell to become proficient at third base. Fox has been primarily a first baseman, with some experience at catcher, left field and right field.

"It's asking a lot of a young man that hasn't played (there)," Lou Piniella said. "He played first base in Triple-A, but look, we only have one (extra) infielder here (with Aaron Miles on the disabled list), so if we have to make a double switch, at least it gives us another option. We're not doing (this) to make him our everyday third baseman, believe me."

Getting closer: The plan is for injured pitcher Rich Harden (back) to play long toss today, rest Monday and throw a bullpen session Tuesday. Best-case scenario is that he rejoins the rotation next week on a road trip that begins Tuesday in Atlanta without having to go down to the minors for a rehab start.

"It depends on what happens the next few days," pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. "Until he can long toss and not feel it, we're not going to push him to (throw from) the mound. He threw (Friday) and the day before, and he didn't have any pain. So we can try to push him a little bit more now."

Harden was eligible to come off the disabled list Saturday.