Carlos Zambrano could be back in the Chicago Cubs rotation as early as next week. The right-hander will throw 60-65 pitches in a simulated game at Wrigley Field on Monday, an off day for the Cubs. It is the next step toward Zambrano returning to the rotation after an uncomfortable stint as a reliever. Manager Lou Piniella said Saturday that the decision on when to plug Zambrano back in the rotation won't be made until Tuesday, after seeing how Zambrano feels the day after his simulated game. "We'll see how he feels, how he comes out of that," Piniella said before the Cubs played Texas. "We won't have anything until we come to the park on Tuesday, how stiff he feels, whether he feels he needs one more effort. I've told him we'll put him back in the rotation when the time is right for him and us." Zambrano moved to the bullpen April 22 at the request of Piniella, and the Cubs have won six of the 11 games in which he's appeared as a reliever. Going into Saturday night's game, Zambrano had made three consecutive scoreless appearances and allowed only one hit in those games. http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=5211190
