6/11 Z, Coleman & Montanez

Carlos Zambrano volunteered to throw 150 pitches if needed. Mike Quade doesn’t expect to need the right-hander to do that. Big Z did throw a season-high 128 pitches on Friday against the Phillies. Any second thoughts?

“If we were tied or leading, I wouldn’t have done that,” Quade said. “I don’t second guess. Obviously, like everybody else, I’m anxious to have ‘Z’ get through it if he can for me.

“There are decisions you make sometimes out of a point of strength if you’re leading or tied and sometimes not,” Quade said. “For me to go right to the other guys [in the bullpen] and blow them out for today when we’re down three to [Roy] Halladay didn’t seem like the right thing to do. That could affect us the next few days.”

* The Cubs added a fresh arm Saturday when they recalled Casey Coleman from Triple-A Iowa. Brad Snyder, who hit .111 in eight games, was designated for assignment. In the eight games so far on the Cubs road trip, the starters have failed to finish the sixth inning in five outings, which has resulted in a lot of work for the bullpen.

“I’m not killing this bullpen,” Quade said. “This is a very valuable part of this club.”

* Lou Montanez made his fourth start on Saturday but his first in the No. 3 spot in the lineup for the Cubs against Phillies lefty Cliff Lee. With all the injuries, the Cubs are short-handed as far as right-handed hitters go. DJ LeMahieu is the only right-handed option off the bench. The Cubs’ two key bats against left-handed pitchers, Jeff Baker and Reed Johnson, are rehabbing at Triple-A Iowa.

– Carrie Muskat