CHICAGO — Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano was scratched from his start Sunday against the Phillies to give him some time to rest his tired arm.
Zambrano (13-5) is 1-1 over his last five starts and twice failed to get out of the fifth inning. He has seen an occasional drop in his velocity.
Leading the NL Central and with the best record in the majors, the Cubs want a fresh Zambrano for the final month. He went through a similar tired-arm period a year ago when he was winless in August before rebounding to go 4-1 in his final five regular-season starts.
Zambrano’s next start will come Tuesday against the Astros at Wrigley Field, with Ryan Dempster pitching Wednesday.
Footnotes.
Dodgers second baseman Jeff Kent will undergo surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left knee Tuesday. He might return by the end of the season, manager Joe Torre said.
• Infielder David Eckstein, the 2006 World Series MVP with St. Louis, was traded from the Blue Jays to the Diamondbacks in exchange for minor-league right-hander Chad Beck. Eckstein batted .277 with a homer, 23 RBIs and a .354 on-base percentage in a part-time role for Toronto.
• Left-hander Wandy Rodriguez left Houston’s game against the Cardinals because of a strained right oblique. He is day to day.
• The Indians traded minor-league infielder Jorge Velandia to the Rays for cash.
• Shortstop Mike Aviles left Kansas City’s game against the Tigers after he was hit in the hand with a pitch from Armando Galarraga in the seventh inning. The Royals said Aviles has a right index finger contusion and X-rays were negative. He is day to day.
• The White Sox recalled reliever Boone Logan from Triple-A Charlotte (N.C.). The Associated Press
