Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano to pitch for Triple-A Thursday

Zambrano to pitch for Triple-A Iowa on Thursday

DES MOINES, Iowa — Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano will pitch out of the bullpen for Triple-A Iowa on Thursday.

Zambrano arrived in Des Moines on Tuesday and was supposed to be available to pitch Wednesday night. Iowa manager Ryne Sandberg says Zambrano worked out Wednesday morning, but an Iowa Cubs spokeswoman says Zambrano won’t be in uniform until Thursday because an undisclosed change in travel plans.

Zambrano was suspended without pay for three days and later put on the restricted list following a dugout confrontation with Derrek Lee on June 25.

Zambrano, who is 3-6 with a 5.66 ERA in 22 major league games this season, could return to the Cubs for a six-game road trip that starts Monday. He is expected to pitch out of the bullpen for the second time this season when he returns to Chicago.