Lilly's woes a mystery to Cubs

PHILADELPHIA -- According to Cubs pitching coach Larry Rothschild, the struggles of starting pitcher Ted Lilly are "a little mysterious."

Lilly is 0-2 with a 9.95 ERA, and he has failed to go 5 innings in any of his 3 starts. Rothschild said Sunday the issue is one of arm strength for the 32-year-old lefty. After getting knocked out Saturday in 4½ innings, Lilly said the problem was location.

"It somewhat is," Rothschild said. "The difference I see is, when he needs to pitch, to reach back for it, he's reaching back, and it's not quite the same right now. He's always been real good in those key situations. Right now it's just not the same.

"Part of it is location, but the arm strength just isn't quite the same right now, and I think that plays into your location more than anything else."

Rothschild was asked if there is a health issue with Lilly.

"No, he feels good," the coach said. "He feels fine. It's a little mysterious, obviously."

Lilly will remain in the starting rotation. In fact, manager Lou Piniella said Sunday that he will keep three or four pitchers -- meaning at least Carlos Zambrano, Lilly and Ryan Dempster -- on regular rest even if it means skipping other starters to do that.

"Keep working on building that up," Rothschild said of Lilly's strength. "He'll get through this. He's too good a pitcher not to. You can't go out there and try to reach for velocity. That's going to come when you feel stronger."

Piniella said he believes "everything will work out" with the pitchers and that there is "no deep concerns."

Hill update: Lou Piniella said beleaguered lefty Rich Hill will rejoin the rotation Friday or Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field. Hill was relegated to the bullpen this weekend while also throwing on the side.

"He's actually thrown very well on the side, and warming up for the game the other day, he threw well," pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. "It's just a matter of taking it between the lines."

Rothschild explained the benefit of sending Hill to the pen.

"I think, with all the extra-inning games, we've been a little short," he said. "For him, maybe coming in for an inning and letting it go a little bit, he can get back that feeling he's had in the past."

Still not there: Reliever Bob Howry gave up 3 hits and 2 runs in 1 inning Saturday. His ERA is 9.95.

"It's a little bit off and on," Larry Rothschild said. "It's inconsistent. Bobby's arm strength the last four or five years this early in the season has always been an issue. He's always commanded the ball better with better velocity."

Eyre throws: Lefty reliever Scott Eyre threw a side session Saturday in Arizona, and he's scheduled to throw another today. Eyre began the season on the disabled list because of a bone chip in his pitching elbow. There is no timetable for his return.