Cubs to give RF DeRosa a few days off

Sep 25, 2008 - 3:00 PM FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- The Chicago Cubs plan to rest right fielder Mark DeRosa, who suffered a strained calf in Wednesday's 9-6, 10-inning win over the New York Mets, for a few days.

DeRosa homered in the second inning Wednesday, but left for a pinch runner after ripping a two-run double in the fifth. He was replaced in right field in the bottom of the inning by Kosuke Fukudome.

With the playoff-bound Cubs having locked up the best record in the National League, there is no need to rush the versatile DeRosa back into the lineup.

"I'll take two or three days off and see what happens," he said. "It's not something I'm too worried about."

Cubs manager Lou Piniella said he intended to give DeRosa, who also has been battling a sore shoulder, some rest anyway.

After Thursday's series finale against the Mets, the National League Central Division champion Cubs close the regular season with three games at Milwaukee.

"We were going to give him a couple days off, but that was because of his shoulder not because of his legs," Piniella said.

DeRosa, who has played all four infield positions and left and right field this season, is batting .285 with career highs in home runs (21) and RBI (87).