Lee hopes to play tonight

To hear Derrek Lee tell it, missing Sunday's game was more a pain in the neck than anything serious.

Lee, who came out of Saturday's game in the sixth inning because of upper-back spasms, said the problem is related to the bulging disc in his neck that he began suffering early last season.

Although he says the ailment hasn't bothered him, it's one that hasn't completely gone away.

"There's really no news; I'm fine," Lee said. "It's just a precautionary thing. I just had some spasms yesterday. That's all it is."

Lee took treatment before the game and said he hopes to play tonight at Pittsburgh. The ailment, he said, was triggered by "an awkward swing" in Saturday's game.

"It's just kind of my left side of my neck down to my back," he said. "I guess it's something that doesn't ever go away. But it's not something that affects you daily."

Day by day: Pitcher Ryan Dempster said Sunday he's not thinking about 20 victories this year or a new contract for next year and beyond.

Dempster won his 15th victory Saturday, tying the career best he set in 2001 while with Florida. He has an outside shot at winning 20, and a big payday surely awaits this fall, when he becomes a free agent.

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry and Dempster have a good relationship, with Dempster signing a three-year, $15.5 million extension at the end of the 2005 season. Both sides have expressed quiet confidence they can strike a new multiyear deal.

"There's a lot of stuff that's going on around here with us as a team and me as an individual that the future could hold," Dempster said. "I just worry about today. I think if I just do that I'll have a lot more fun this year.

"I don't worry about (the contract). It's exciting, but at the same time I'm more worried about what's going on with us and hopefully winning a division here and hopefully taking it to another level."

Dandy like Randy: Catcher Geovany Soto hit his 19th homer of the season, tying the Cubs' rookie record, set in 1966 by catcher Randy Hundley.

"I'm honored just to be in that category," Soto said. "Right now, just try to keep winning games and keep doing what we're doing."

Homer happy: Mark DeRosa has homered in four straight games, something no Cub has done since Fred McGriff, from Sept. 20-23, 2001.

"It's definitely nice," DeRosa said. "I don't know what to say about it. I'm guessing right. I'm getting my pitch and not missing it. To be honest with you, I'm not trying to do too much - I can't explain it, actually."

This and that: The Cubs have won eight series in a row (two or more games) for the first time since 1937. - Alfonso Soriano has walked in a career-high five straight games. - The Cubs drew 4 walks, marking the 32nd game in which their hitters have walked at least once.