By Jim Molony / MLB.com HOUSTON - Alfonso Soriano will begin a Minor League rehab assignment on Monday, and if all goes well, the Cubs could have their leadoff hitter back in the lineup on Wednesday or Thursday.
Soriano, who has been on the disabled list since June 12 because of a fractured hand, will be in the lineup for the Rookie League Mesa Cubs on Monday at Peoria, Ariz. Chicago opens a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night in Phoenix.
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Alfonso Soriano will play in an Arizona Rookie League game Monday morning at 10:30 in Peoria, Ariz., against the Padres' club. The Cubs hope to get Soriano 6-7 at-bats. The plan remains for him to play for Class AAA Iowa Tuesday. It's possible the Cubs will activate him Wednesday against the D'Backs, one day ahead of schedule.
Soriano said this morning his left hand felt fine after batting practice Saturday.
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By Jim Molony / MLB.com HOUSTON - Maybe Alfonso Soriano's return is all the Cubs' offense needs to start humming again. After all, despite their recent struggles, the Cubs still lead the National League in hitting with a .280 team batting average.
That gaudy number, however, hides some ugly July numbers.
the National League, where there's no DH, and you're going to feel it over a prolonged period of time."

Soriano Returning to the Cubs line up next week? Michael Wagner writes on how the Cubs could soon have their slugging left fielder back in the line up.
by Michael Wagner (Scribe) 0 comments
sday," Soriano said. "My hand feels great, like nothing happened before."

By Gordon Wittenmyer, Sun-Times News Group HOUSTON - How Alfonso Soriano looks when he comes off the disabled list within the next week could determine if the Cubs make any more moves before the non-waiver trade deadline in 12 days.
Soriano took batting practice Friday for the first time in more than a week and said the left hand he broke 51/2 weeks ago felt fine.Barring a setback, the Cubs plan to activate him for Thursday's home series opener against Florida after a two- or three-game minor league rehab assignment.
e gap with the late guys.

HOUSTON—Alfonso Soriano took batting practice for the first time in two weeks Friday and said he still is targeting a Thursday return against the Marlins at Wrigley Field.
"I just want to make my mind feel comfortable," Soriano said.
week or so.

Ninety-five games into the season and sitting on a 4½-game lead in the National League Central, the Cubs are either on their way or -- considering history -- the Cardinals and Brewers have them right where they want them.
But forget the so-called curses and heartbreak past. The Cubs can't miss the playoffs if they can take care of five simple orders of business over the final 67-game stretch, which begins tonight in Houston:
discover whatever it takes to gain a little more comfort away from Wrigley. The Cubs' major-league-best home record should put them over the top in the division and toward home-field advantage in the NL playoffs. But that's only if their losing road record doesn't get much worse -- and, in particular, if they find a road comfort zone by Labor Day.