Piniella seeking more work for Dempster

DENVER -- Lou Piniella used the same starting lineup for a third straight night on Saturday.

The starting rotation has been constant since Sean Marshall was called up on May 22.

The bullpen has been solid.

So what's left for the Cubs manager to tinker with?

Well, there is a little work he wants done in the bullpen. More precisely, he wants a little more work out of his closer, even if it's not in the ninth inning.

Ryan Dempster likely will remain the main closer, but don't be surprised if he comes into games in the seventh or eighth innings and someone else closes on a given night. Dempster warmed up in the seventh inning in Friday night's game against Colorado, causing setup man Bob Howry to crack: "I thought Lou forgot what inning it was."

Heading into Saturday's action, Dempster had pitched eight times, giving up six runs (five earned) on 13 hits with eight walks in nine innings, since coming back from an oblique injury in mid-July.

Ramirez on hold Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez (right wrist soreness) will take batting practice today but probably won't see any game action until Tuesday against Cincinnati at Wrigley Field.

Ramirez received a cortisone shot when he had the wrist examined in Chicago on Thursday.

Sun-Times News Group Cubs Notebook