Cubs to activate RHP Zambrano

Jul 4, 2008 - 4:07 PM ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- The suddenly struggling Chicago Cubs are in need of a boost. They hope their ace can provide one.

Righthander Carlos Zambrano will be activated from the disabled list Friday to start the opener of the Cubs' three-game series at St. Louis.

While the Cubs hold a 2 1/2-game edge over the Cardinals in the NL Central Division, they have leveled after achieving a water-mark of 20 games over .500 (48-28) on June 22 following a sweep of the Chicago White Sox. Thursday's 8-3 setback in San Francisco was the Cubs' seventh defeat in their last 10 contests.

Zambrano has not pitched since June 18, when he left a start against the Tampa Bay Rays with a straine right shoulder and went on the DL for the first time in his career. He threw a bullpen session on Sunday.

Zambrano has been a workhouse throughout his career for the Cubs, surpassing 200 innings in each of the last five seasons. In 16 starts this year, he is 8-3 with a 3.13 ERA in 107 innings.

Without Zambrano, who missed two starts, the Cubs' pitching has been inconsistent.

"He's a huge lift," Chicago starter Jason Marquis. "It's nice to have a guy like that in your rotation."

Last season, Zambrano dominated the Cardinals, going 3-0 with a 1.69 ERA.