(Courtesy of The Sports Xchange) The Cubs bullpen continues to sparkle, allowing three earned runs in 18 2/3 innings and winning three of the team's first four games.

But the 'pen is in danger of being overtaxed because two starting pitchers are not fully stretched out.

Sean Marshall was able to go just 4 1/3 innings in Sunday's 8-4 victory over St. Louis, and No. 5 starter Jerome Williams, who will make his first start of the season Saturday against Pittsburgh, has thrown just three innings in long relief in the first five games of the season.

That makes it important that the Cubs' starters go six or more innings in the next four games.

Left-handed Glendon Rusch needs to set the tone Tuesday when the Cubs open a three-game series against Cincinnati. He threw 85 pitches but lasted just four innings in an 8-6 loss to the Reds at Great American Ball Park on April 5.

--story continued below advertisement--


NOTES

 --RHP Mark Prior (shoulder injury), who has been at extended spring training, will throw a bullpen session at Wrigley Field on Tuesday. The Cubs will evaluate him after the session, and the next step forward would be to let him face hitters.

--RHP Kerry Wood (shoulder surgery, knee surgery) continues to face hitters in batting practice, and his next step could be a simulated game later this week. The Cubs are not saying when he will be ready for a rehab assignment.

--RHP Jerome Williams, who will make his first start on Saturday at Pittsburgh, pitched two scoreless innings against St. Louis on Sunday night and got back into manager Dusty Baker's good graces. Williams entered the game with a 4-3 lead and held the Cardinals scoreless, and the Cubs rallied and won 8-4. In Williams' first appearance against Cincinnati, he walked three and gave up three runs in one inning in an 8-6 loss.

--RHP Scott Williamson pitched a scoreless eighth on Sunday night and watched as the Cubs staged a five-run rally in the bottom of the inning for an 8-4 victory. Williamson earned his first victory since July 28, 2003, when he was with Cincinnati.

==============
www.mysportspage.com
==============