Zambrano set for bullpen session

Jun 26, 2008 - 6:47 PM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Chicago Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano, on the disabled list since June 19 with a mild strain in his right shoulder, is scheduled for a bullpen session on Sunday after throwing off flat ground Thursday.

Zambrano threw to bullpen catcher Edgar Tovar in left field and reported no problems. Sunday will be the righthander's first bullpen session since his last start against Tampa Bay on June 18, when he felt discomfort in the shoulder.

"I feel good," he said. "I'm ready to keep doing my exercises and see what is scheduled for me."

Zambrano, who is 8-3 with a 3.13 ERA for the first-place Cubs, is eligible to come off the DL during Chicago's series in St. Louis from July 4-6. He was projected to miss two starts.

Zambrano said he would like to pitch in the All-Star Game, which will be played in New York on July 15. He could be on the National League along with teammate Ryan Dempster, who is 9-2.

"I want to help the National League, so if we are in the World Series, we can have (the home-field) advantage," Zambrano said.

In other news, right fielder Kosuke Fukudome was kept out of the starting lineup Thursday for the second straight day. He was scratched from Wednesday's contest due to tightness in his left calf. Fukudome did not run in the outfield Thursday to test the leg.

"I didn't go full speed, so I couldn't really tell," he said through an interpreter.