Struggling Theriot will get today off

Ryan Theriot, the spark plug for the Cubs on so many occasions this season, is dragging.

So as soon as Ronny Cedeno arrives today with the call-ups from the minor leagues when major-league rosters can be expanded, manager Lou Piniella plans to give his shortstop a day off.

Theriot's game has dropped off in the last 10 days. He is 2-for-18 on the homestand (.111) and got his first hit in seven days in Friday's 6-1 loss to Houston.

"We need to give him a blow for sure," Piniella said of Theriot.

Five or six players will be recalled today, according to Piniella. In addition to Cedeno, left-handed reliever Will Ohman and catcher Geovany Soto will come up from Class AAA Iowa along with several others.

Piniella said call-ups are coming to play supporting roles down the stretch.

"We're here to win baseball games now and not to look at young players," Piniella said. "We'll use them if they can help us win baseball games, and if not, they'll be here to support any way they can.

"That's why we're not going to bring up all that many and not overstock the roster just to have people here. We're going to bring up people we think we can use in different situations."

Toughing it out: First baseman Derrek Lee played Friday despite bruised ribs, which he suffered in Thursday's win over Milwaukee when he ran into the glass partition atop the wall near the visitor's dugout chasing a foul ball.

"It's just a little sore," Lee said.

Lee asked to play after testing the ribs in the batting cage.

"Derek Lee's a trooper," Lou Piniella said. "He bruised his ribs pretty good (Thursday) night, but he took some batting practice and he wants to play. I'm appreciative of that."

Trachsel has history: Steve Trachsel, acquired in Friday's trade from Baltimore, was drafted in the eighth round in 1991 by the Cubs and he pitched for them from 1993-99.

Trachsel started and won one of the biggest games in recent Cubs history -- the 1998 wild-card tiebreaker against the Giants at Wrigley Field.

"A lot of people still remember that game," said Kerry Wood, the only present Cub who played with Trachsel.

Trachsel also gave up Mark McGwire's record-breaking 62nd home run in 1998 and was the Cubs' Opening Day starter in 1999.

It's official: Carlos Zambrano formally signed his new five-year, $91.5 million contract on Friday.