Cubs sticking with current bullpen setup

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry is scheduled to return to Wrigley Field today after visiting the Class AAA farm team in Des Moines for the past several days.

There has been speculation the Cubs would call up a pitcher because the bullpen has struggled, but Hendry indicated Monday nothing was imminent.

Manager Lou Piniella echoed that Tuesday. The beleaguered bullpen got a break with a rainout Sunday and Monday being an off-day.

"We're going to pitch them all, like I said," Piniella said. "They're here. We have confidence in them. A few of them have to step it up a little bit. Like I said the other day, we haven't talked about any of our players that are in Iowa at all.

"Jim Hendry always goes down there early in the season to have a pretty good idea of where we stand in case we need to make some changes."

The speculation has centered on right-hander Jeff Samardzija, who is in Iowa's starting rotation. Samardzija pitched well his last time out, but it does not appear the Cubs will bring him up right away.

Bradley still out: Milton Bradley was not in right field again Tuesday night.

With cold and wet conditions, Lou Piniella wasn't going to take any chances with Bradley, who has not started since April 12, when he strained his right groin in Milwaukee.

"The weather's going to get nice," Piniella said. "It's supposed to improve tomorrow and the next day. It's supposed to be decent over the weekend (in St. Louis), and then we go to Phoenix. We'll play in better weather, and we'll get him in there to play as soon as he's ready."

Bradley has made two pinch-hitting appearances since getting hurt. He was called out on strikes in his first pinch-hit at-bat. He was ejected from the game and subsequently suspended two games by Major League Baseball. Bradley is appealing that suspension.

In hindsight, it might have been best to put Bradley on the disabled list and call up a hitter from Iowa.

Minor matters: Tyler Colvin, the Cubs' No. 1 draft pick in 2007, had a season-high 3 hits Monday for Class A Daytona. Colvin underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last November after playing for Class AA Tennessee.

The Cubs say they'll have Colvin DH at Daytona until he's ready to play the field.

Jake Fox extended his hitting streak to 12 games for Class AAA Iowa Monday, with a double. Fox entered Tuesday batting .460 with 7 homers and 24 RBI.