9/10 Gorzelanny throws; Samardzija to start

Tom Gorzelanny threw a bullpen session Friday and will have one more Sunday before the Cubs decide when to insert him back into the rotation. He’s been sidelined since taking a line drive off his left pinkie finger on Sept. 1.

Manager Mike Quade said Friday they hope to insert Jeff Samardzija into the rotation for the Sept. 18 game in Florida, although cautioned that it’s not “set in stone.” Samardzija was called up Tuesday after Triple-A Iowa’s season ended. Samardzija was available in the Cubs bullpen Friday. The right-hander has been willing to do whatever the team needs.

“He showed up here and said, ‘Q, I’m ready to go however you need me and you appreciate that,” Quade said.

If Samardzija starts, then who is bumped?

“I’m not prepared to answer that,” Quade said, “because it could be seven if Gorzelanny is ready.”

Looking ahead to the St. Louis series, it will be Carlos Silva, Randy Wells and Carlos Zambrano.

– Carrie Muskat