7/14 Extra bases: Z, Cash & Q

Carlos Zambrano threw a side session to test his back on Thursday and is all set to be activated from the disabled list on Saturday. Rodrigo Lopez will fill the fifth spot in the rotation with Ramon Ortiz going to the bullpen.

* Mike Quade did chat with Ryan Dempster to discuss why he pulled the right-hander after 87 pitches and five innings in his last start in Pittsburgh. Dempster was upset about what he felt was an early exit.

“It’s like anything else — if you argue with a player or a coach or people at home,” Quade said. “It’s a different interpretation of what’s going on and often that’s not considered at that moment.”

* Andrew Cashner will continue to build up arm strength and throw long toss for a couple weeks in Mesa, Ariz., before he can throw off the mound.

* The only glitch for Quade and his first All-Star Game was the travel. His flight Sunday out of Pittsburgh was canceled and he had to be re-routed through Memphis on Monday. On Tuesday, he was detained for 40 minutes by security at Sky Harbor Airport because his belongings set off the alarm.

“I don’t know what they were looking for,” he said. “[The All-Star Game] was a great experience and we won and that matters.”

– Carrie Muskat