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CHICAGO -- Chicago Cubs rookie reliever Lendy Castillo was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left groin strain, and left-hander Scott Maine was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday.

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MILWAUKEE -- Carlos Marmol appears headed to the disabled list, the biggest casualty of the Chicago Cubs' 8-7 13-inning defeat to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Marmol was diagnosed with a strained right hamstring and will head back to Chicago for an MRI on Saturday.

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CINCINNATI -- The return of Kerry Wood and Ryan Dempster on Thursday cost Randy Wells and Scott Maine their spots on the Chicago Cubs' roster.

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CHICAGO -- The offense rallied to tie it in the middle innings Saturday, but the Chicago Cubs bullpen let it get away in a 4-3 defeat to the Cincinnati Reds.

How it happened: Making his first start of the season, Randy Wells worked his way in and out of trouble, managing to give up just two runs over five innings. The offense couldn’t build on its momentum from Saturday, though, and scored just twice, with one of the runs coming after an errant wild pickoff throw. Alfonso Soriano twice made outs with the bases loaded. Starlin Castro was hit in the elbow by a pitch but remained in the game after a visit from the medical staff and later hit a triple in the ninth inning.

What it means: Wells’ five innings means the bullpen worked another four innings on Sunday as it awaits some reinforcement. The fact that Scott Maine pitched 1 2/3 innings Sunday, two days after throwing an inning makes it likely that he is guy on his way back to Iowa as right-hander Michael Bowden gets ready to join the roster Monday. When it comes to innings pitched, though, the Cubs entered Sunday with 42 2/3 innings from its relievers, still in the bottom third among teams in all of baseball.

Outside the box: Manager Dale Sveum made a curious double-switch to start the sixth inning. Joe Mather remained in the game after batting for Wells. But instead of taking the spot of Soriano, who made the last out in the bottom of the fifth, Sveum had Mather replace Bryan LaHair at first base. Mather can play both positions. LaHair had just driven a run in the fifth with a single and improved his batting average to .361. Soriano, who is barely batting over .200, struck out with one out and the bases loaded in the seventh inning.

Off beat: Speed can be a menace on the baseball field and Tony Campana proved to be a particular issue for Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto. After an infield single in the first inning, Campana coaxed Cueto into a balk. In the third inning Cueto rushed on Campana’s sacrifice bunt back up the box, fumbled the ball and couldn’t get the throw to first base in time. Campana nearly reached base a third consecutive time when Cueto bobbled a comebacker, but his throw to first base was just in time. The call still drew an argument from Sveum with first-base umpire Jerry Meals.

Up next: Cubs right-hander Matt Garza (1-1, 3.66 ERA) will take the mound Monday in the opener of a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals. St. Louis will counter with left-hander Jamie Garcia in the 7 p.m. start from Wrigley Field.

CHICAGO -- Relievers Lendy Castillo and Scott Maine figure to have a restless night ahead until they find out who is the odd man out on the Chicago Cubs roster.

The Cubs acquired right-handed reliever Michael Bowden from the Boston Red Sox on Saturday in the deal that sent Marlon Byrd to Boston. With the right-handed Bowden joining the roster Monday, somebody in the bullpen has to go.

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The Chicago Cubs, losers of five straight games, might be down two keys pitchers heading into their three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday.

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MESA, Ariz. -- James Russell knows what is at stake now that Sean Marshall is a member of the Cincinnati Reds.

Those late-inning opportunities that Marshall flourished in during recent seasons are now up for grabs, and Russell is among the select few who could inherit them.

"Yeah, once we got rid of Sean somebody has to step up and take on his workload," Russell said. "That's kind of what I've been working toward this offseason and what I will work toward this spring."

Heading in to spring training, Russell and veteran newcomer Trever Miller appear in line to face lefties in key situations late in games. Scott Maine and John Gaub would appear to be contenders as well but have longer odds for the role.

Hearing manager Dale Sveum talk about it, he could be leaning toward Miller to face lefties late in games, but would probably let Kerry Wood handle the entire eighth inning to get to closer Carlos Marmol.

"[Miller] knows how to get left-handers out and that's a big asset depending on how your bullpen unfolds during the course of spring training," Sveum said.

Russell still has some work to do if he wants more responsibility.

"Right now he's a matchup guy against lefties," Sveum said. "He's got the ability and the endurance to go two innings. It all depends on what’s going on, the score of the game what they have on the bench and all that. But he’s a guy that can go two innings, there’s no doubt about that."

Russell knows he can’t simply rely on the organization’s familiarity with what he did last season because of all the turnover in the front office and coaching staff.

At first glance, Russell’s numbers (1-6 record and a 4.47 ERA) don’t suggest an excellent season, but throwing out the appearances when he was pressed into service as a starter and all of a sudden his value becomes clear.

Russell lost all five of his starts, posting a 9.33 ERA and a 2.018 WHIP in the process. In 59 relief outings he delivered a 2.19 ERA and a 1.074 WHIP.

"I felt like I did a very good job last year in the bullpen, and I'm hoping to build off that and take the end of the season into this season and keep it going," said the son of former major-leaguer Jeff Russell.

He knows, though that he can’t let the numbers speak for themselves with Miller, Maine and Gaub looking for innings, too. Sveum said that in a perfect world he breaks camp with two left-handers in the bullpen.

"It makes it fun. Friendly competition is always a good thing to have," Marshall said. "It makes you work harder and you kind of focus a little more."

CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs on Monday activated right-handed pitcher Andrew Cashner from the 60-day disabled list.

Cashner is expected to be in uniform Tuesday, but he is unlikely to pitch until Wednesday at the earliest. He has been throwing every third day as part of his rehab.

Cashner was placed on the DL on April 8 (retroactive to April 6) with a right rotator cuff strain. He re-aggravated the injury while rehabbing in mid-May. He is expected to stay in the bullpen for the remainder of this season.

Cashner’s activation could be one of many roster moves the team makes in the coming days.

Infielder D.J. Lemahieu and relief pitcher John Gaub are expected to be called up Tuesday from Triple-A Iowa. After that, the team likely will wait until the end of the Double-A playoffs before promoting two players on the Tennessee Smokies. Right-handed pitcher Rafael Dolis and catcher Steve Clevenger are on track to get promoted after the conclusion of those playoffs. Clevenger must be added to the roster before he is eligible to play in the major leagues.

Cashner’s coming off the DL and Celvenger’s eventual addition will max out the Cubs’ 40-man roster. With that, the team may consider designating players currently on the 40-man roster for assignment.

One player who will not be ascending to the 40-man roster is outfielder Brett Jackson. Rated as the organization’s top prospect, the Cubs have decided to keep Jackson in the minors for the remainder of this season. The team also canceled Jackson’s Arizona Fall League slot. The young outfielder will instead play with Team USA in the Pan Am Games this fall.

A few other names who are unlikely to see the 40-man roster: pitcher Scott Maine, catcher Wellington Castillo and pitcher Chris Carpenter. All were candidates for call-ups, if not for injuries.

On Sunday, Sept. 11, a roster spot will have to be opened for Carlos Zambrano’s return to the active roster. Zambrano will be coming off the disqualified list after 30 days. He will not re-join the team, however.

The Chicago Cubs recalled pitcher Casey Coleman from Triple-A Iowa and optioned reliever Scott Maine.

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The Chicago Cubs promoted left-handed pitcher Scott Maine from Triple-A Iowa on Monday to temporarily fill the spot left open by Carlos Zambrano being placed on the disqualification list. Maine is available to play in Monday's game against the Astros.

Mike Quade’s bullpen was depleted over the weekend as the Cubs had 12 bullpen innings over the last three games.

On Wednesday, the Cubs will change their focus and promote Casey Coleman from Iowa to pitch in Zambrano’s rotation spot, according to a source familiar with the situation.

The Chicago Cubs activated pitcher Matt Garza from the disabled list, and he will start against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night.

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WASHINGTON -- The Chicago Cubs have purchased the contract of left-handed pitcher Scott Maine from Triple-A Iowa.

The 25-year-old Maine has not pitched in the majors. He's split this season between Iowa and Double-A Tennessee, going 4-2 with a 3.14 ERA.

The Cubs optioned right-handed pitcher Justin Berg to Iowa on Tuesday. He was 0-1 with a 5.77 ERA in 35 games.