Wood’s Start Is Delayed

Kerry Wood’s return to the rotation of the Chicago Cubs has been delayed after the right-hander experienced soreness in his shoulder.

Wood, who hasn’t pitched since Aug. 3 because of tendinitis in his right shoulder, had been scheduled to start Tuesday against Milwaukee at Wrigley Field.

Wood said the soreness came after he threw Saturday and Sunday.

“I’ll bag it until he’s ready,” Cub Manager Don Baylor said.

Wood, who missed the 1999 season because of reconstructive elbow surgery, is 10-6 with a 3.50 earned-run average and 183 strikeouts, third-most in the National League.

Baylor said right-hander Carlos Zambrano, 20, would be summoned from triple-A Iowa to make his major league debut in the second game of today’s doubleheader against Milwaukee. Zambrano was 9-4 at Iowa with a 3.98 ERA in 24 appearances, 23 of them starts.

Another pitcher will be called up to pitch Tuesday.

Second baseman Quilvio Veras signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox and was assigned to triple-A Pawtucket.

Veras, 30, was released earlier this month by the Atlanta Braves. He was batting .252.

A seven-year major league veteran, Veras missed part of this season because of a sprained ankle and a strained muscle in his rib cage. He missed half of the 2000 season because of a torn knee ligament.

Left-hander Chris Michalak was designated for assignment by the Toronto Blue Jays.

Michalak, who made 18 starts before being demoted to the bullpen in late July, was 6-7 with a 4.62 ERA.

The Blue Jays purchased the contract of left-hander Scott Eyre from triple-A Syracuse.

Right-handed pitcher Dewon Brazelton, selected by Tampa Bay with the third pick of June’s amateur draft, has enrolled for his senior year at Middle Tennessee State.