NL | Carlos Zambrano's injury adds to woes for troubled Cubs

CHICAGO — Ryan Dempster stepped out in front of the team's headquarters at the beginning of spring training nearly seven months ago and made a bold statement: He said he thought the Chicago Cubs would win the World Series.

Dempster's optimism remains intact, despite a recent funk that has seen the first-place Cubs drop five straight games for the first time this season.

And not only are the Cubs trying to weather the losing skid, they learned Thursday that ace Carlos Zambrano has rotator-cuff tendinitis, a condition that required an injection of anti-inflammatory medication.

Zambrano, who will miss his turn Sunday in Cincinnati, hopes to begin throwing in St. Louis when the Cubs go there next Wednesday. And if all goes well, he could rejoin the rotation for a series in Houston and pitch against the Astros.

"It's a relief knowing Z doesn't have anything more significant than what we thought. And hopefully he'll pitch in Houston, which means he will only miss one turn," general manager Jim Hendry said Thursday.

So, in the 100th anniversary year of their last World Series win, the Cubs are sorting out some major issues. They have 22 games remaining and just six are at Wrigley Field, where they are 51-24.

Atlanta: 3B Chipper Jones started Thursday after missing two games with a twisted right knee he hurt during infield practice Tuesday. He went 1 for 1 with three walks and is batting .359, one point behind St Louis' Albert Pujols for the NL lead.

Cincinnati: Right-hander Josh Fogg left after three innings Thursday because he strained his groin while scoring on a sacrifice fly.

Fogg gave up five runs against Pittsburgh, his latest poor start, then left after tagging up from third base on Jeff Keppinger's fly to center field.

Philadelphia: Third-base coach Steve Smith was suspended for two games and fined because of an argument with umpires during a game in Chicago.

On Aug. 29, Philadelphia put runners at the corners with two outs in the top of the seventh before Ryan Howard's hard grounder went off the Cubs' Derrek Lee. The first baseman retrieved the ball, tossed to pitcher Jeff Samardzija covering the bag and first-base umpire Chris Guccione called Howard out. Smith and Phillies manager Charlie Manuel argued with Guccione and plate umpire Bill Welke, and Smith was ejected by Welke.

Smith is scheduled to begin serving his suspension tonight when the Phillies play the New York Mets.

Washington: Pitcher Shawn Hill will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow today. ... 1B Ronnie Belliard left for a pinch runner after straining his right groin running out an infield hit in the seventh Thursday against Atlanta.

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