N.L. Central.(BASEBALL)

CHICAGO CUBS

RHP Kerry Wood will be brought along slowly as he continues to come back from arthroscopic shoulder surgory. Wood wasn't able to throw between his first and second starts, and the team gave him an extra day before his third.... Veteran Tony Womack may emerge as the starter at second base. Womack, who was released by the Reds in April, will get the bulk of starts against righthanded pitchers. He brings speed, good defense and an attitude that was missing in the clubhouse.... When C Michael Barrett begins his suspension, the Cubs will have to call up a fill-in from the minors. Geovany Soto, a solid defensive catcher, is the leading candidate. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: When LF Matt Mutton lets his hands do the work, he drives the ball up the middle. But when he doesn't, he bits fly balls to right or rolls over the ball. It took three days of hard work in the batting cage in Florida to get his hands in the proper position.--Carrie Muskat

MILWAUKEE BREWERS

Manager Ned Yost has been careful not to overuse RHP Matt Wise, who is two years removed from major elbow surgery. Wise has been the team's best setup man but pitched just six times in the first 22 games this month and is used only when the team has a narrow lead in the late innings.... LF Carlos Lee was 3-for-30 and on a 13-game homerless streak before hitting his 200th career home run last week. Lee says he was pressing to reach the milestone, and the team hopes he'll return to form now that he's past 200. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: CF Brady Clark had a run-in last week with umpire Bill Welke, who objected to Clark's sticking his elbow over the plate on an inside pitch. Clark started wearing a thick elbow guard last season when he was hit by pitches 18 times--third most in the N.L--and continues to wear the guard this season. Clark denies Welke's assertion that he was trying to got hit.--Adam McCalvy

CINCINNATI REDS

Inconsistency was the reason LHP Dave Williams was designated for assignment before being dealt to the Mets. For now, RHP Elizardo Ramirez will fill the fifth starter role. Ramirez, 23, lacks great stuff but doesn't hurt himself with walks and is getting better at locating his pitches.... In his first start back from the D.L. after knee surgery, LHP Eric Milton threw his fastball in the mid- to high 80s. Milton, whose fastball usually hits the low 90s, will need a few starts to build his arm strength. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: After a poor start, LHP Chris Hammond has been more effective. He is locating his changeup for strikes against both lefthanded and righthanded hitters. To stay sharp during long periods of inactivity, Hammond throws 30 pitches up to five days a week without warming up or long tossing. It's a regimen he picked up with the Braves in 2002 while working with pitching coach Leo Mazzone.--Mark Sheldon

PITTSBURGH PIRATES