Marshall headed to bullpen -- for now

The Cubs' starting pitching is finally in order -- at least for this week.

Manager Lou Piniella decided to start newly acquired Steve Trachsel on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, push Ted Lilly back a day to Wednesday and send Sean Marshall to the bullpen.

Carlos Zambrano will take his normal turn today against the Dodgers, with Jason Marquis going Thursday.

Marshall, who started Friday's loss to Houston, would be available out of the bullpen today.

"I think I'm going to miss my turn this week and then pick up a game next week, or something like that," Marshall said. "But we'll see. I'll adjust easily to it, I'm sure, and it'll be the best thing for the team and hopefully we'll win."

Piniella stressed that the left-handed Marshall has pitched well but that the team wanted to go with the right-handed Trachsel's experience for the immediate future.

"It'll be a little bit different, but I can adapt and adjust to the new situation," Marshall said.

Piniella had no answer when asked when Marshall might start again.

"We don't know," Piniella said. "I just don't know. I wish I knew. We'll put him in the bullpen for this series and see what we do from there."

Marshall (7-7) goes to the bullpen with a 6.18 ERA in August.

"We've skipped people here from time to time this summer. He's pitched well," Piniella said. "We've traded for Trachsel and he's had experience in these types of situations. And it gives us some innings in the bullpen from the left side, which we haven't had all summer.

"It helps out in a couple ways, and at the same time it gives Marshall a little bit of a breather, too."

With Lilly being pushed back to Wednesday, it puts him in line to face the Cardinals in the Sept. 10 makeup game at Wrigley Field.

Bad timing: Aramis Ramirez wasn't around for the drama at the end of Sunday's 6-5 win over Houston. The Cubs' third baseman was ejected in the bottom of the sixth inning by home-plate umpire Tony Randozzo for slamming his helmet to the ground after being called out on strikes.

"I asked the umpire that he should have fined him, but he said he showed him up too much," said Lou Piniella.

It was Ramirez's first ejection of the season.

Recovering well: Lou Piniella reported that coach Ivan DeJesus is recovering nicely from surgery for prostate cancer.

"He's doing fine," Piniella said.

Piniella told of DeJesus' condition when asked a question about the team's poor bunting of late.

"DeJesus has been working with our bunters all year and doing a darn good job," Piniella said. "We've done a good job here all year, it's just in the past two or three series we haven't executed and it makes a difference."

Piniella has asked bench coach Alan Trammell to work with the hitters and pitchers on bunting until DeJesus returns in 7-10 days.

This and that: Ron Santo returned to the radio booth Sunday after having to leave in the sixth inning Saturday because of a crack in his left leg prosthesis. Santo was back with a new prosthesis. … After Lou Piniella said on Saturday that he planned to rest Ryan Theriot, the shortstop started again Sunday for the 29th straight game.

Scouting report

Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field

TV: Channel 9 today; Comcast SportsNet Tuesday and Thursday; ESPN Wednesday

Radio: WGN 720-AM

Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Carlos Zambrano (14-11) vs. Esteban Loaiza (0-0) today at 3:05 p.m. Steve Trachsel (0-0) vs. Brad Penny (14-4) Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.; Ted Lilly (13-7) vs. TBD Wednesday at 7:05 p.m.; Jason Marquis (11-8) vs. Derek Lowe (11-12) Thursday at 1:20 p.m.

At a glance: The Dodgers' season is slipping away as far as their chances go of winning the NL West or the wild card, but Sunday's 5-0 win at San Diego was a big one. Nomar Garciaparra remains sidelined with a strained left calf muscle, unable to run. David Wells was supposed to start Wednesday for the Dodgers, but he will be serving his seven-game suspension that he drew while with the Padres for arguing with an umpire on July 7. Eric Stults is expected to be recalled from Class AAA Las Vegas on Tuesday in time to start Wednesday. Steve Trachsel, who starts Tuesday in his return to the Cubs, is 4-10 lifetime against the Dodgers.

Next: Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park, Friday-Sunday

-- Tim Sassone