Tom Gorzelanny returned to action on Friday September 24.

Tom Gorzelanny was tagged for seven runs in 3 1/3 innings by the Cardinals in his return to the rotation Friday.

Gorzelanny hadn't pitched since suffering a hairline fracture on his left pinkie finger on Sept. 1. He probably would have made a rehab start today were it June instead of September, but since the minor league season is over, that wasn't an option. The beating took his ERA from 3.90 to 4.28.

Tom Gorzelanny (pinkie finger) threw 75 pitches in a simulated game Friday and will return to the rotation next Friday.

The left-hander hasn't pitched since September 1, when he was hit by a comebacker, but it now appears all systems are go. Gorzelanny has a 3.90 ERA in 27 games -- 21 starts -- this season.

Tom Gorzelanny (pinkie) is scheduled to throw a five-inning simulated game on Friday.

His workload in Friday's sim game suggests that the Cubs hope he can return as a starter before the season is done. Gorzelanny has been sidelined since taking a comebacker off his left hand on September 1.

Tom Gorzelanny (pinkie) threw a bullpen session Friday.

He'll throw another one on Sunday before a decision is made on his return. Gorzy has been sidelined since taking a comebacker off his left pinkie finger during a start on September 1.

Tom Gorzelanny (pinkie) plans to throw a bullpen session this weekend.

Gorzelanny was diagnosed with a small hairline fracture at the tip of his pinkie finger last week and the Cubs are not putting a timetable on his return. "It's still sore from bruising," the left-hander said Wednesday. "When I'm throwing or holding [the ball] it doesn't feel bad."

A CT scan Thursday on Tom Gorzelanny's left hand revealed a small hairline fracture under his pinkie finger.

Gorzelanny will miss at least one start and probably more. He suffered the injury Wednesday when he was struck by a third-inning comebacker. The Cubs have not named a replacement for the lefty and Carlos Silva has been a little too ineffective in the minors to warrant the nod.

Tom Gorzelanny had to exit his start in the third inning Wednesday after being struck on the pitching hand by a comebacker.

The lefty deflected the ball with his hand before falling to the mound in pain and eventually being removed. He will have an X-ray, and we'll update you on his status when more is known. Gorzelanny had thrown 2 2/3 scoreless innings before exiting.

Tom Gorzelanny fired seven innings of one-run ball in a 5-4 win over the Braves on Saturday.

Gorzy scattered seven hits and two walks while striking out nine en route to his first win since July 24. The only run scored on a double by Alex Gonzalez in the top of the sixth inning. The southpaw looked like a fine option in mixed leagues over the first two months of the season, but his command has been largely erratic since he was sent to the bullpen in the first week of June. He's not considered a mixed-league option right now, especially with the first-place Reds on tap next week.

Tom Gorzelanny allowed five runs over 6 1/3 frames in Monday's loss to the Padres.

The southpaw was pitching from the stretch most of the night, as he gave up nine hits and walked three while striking out a pair. He threw 120 pitches. Gorzelanny had a 3.16 ERA before the All-Star break but his mark so far in the second half sits at 5.17 after six outings. He'll attempt to rebound Saturday against Atlanta.

Tom Gorzelanny allowed nine hits and five earned runs over 6 1/3 innings Saturday in a loss to the Rockies.

Gorzelanny has mostly been great this season, but he appears to be running out of gas. He walked two batters on Saturday night and has really struggled with his control in his last several starts. It may be too late to sell high, so we just have to hope that he rebounds next week against the Reds.

Tom Gorzelanny yielded three runs over six innings in a win over the Cardinals on Saturday afternoon.

Gorzelanny was able to escape a bases-loaded jam in his final inning of work. All told, he scattered seven hits while walking three and striking out three. Gorzy has walked 18 batters over his last 28 2/3 innings after walking just 23 batters over his first 58 innings. Still, he has won each of his last four decisions and has likely done enough to stay in the rotation even after Carlos Zambrano returns at the end of the month.

Tom Gorzelanny yielded three runs -- two earned -- in 6 2/3 innings Sunday in a victory over the Phillies.

Gorzy walked five, but he moved to 3-0 so far in July. He has a 2.38 ERA in four starts since rejoining the rotation, so we can't help but think the Cubs would have a better record right now if not for the foolish decision to send him to the pen for a month.

Tom Gorzelanny yielded two runs -- one earned -- over six innings in a win over the Dodgers on Saturday.

Gorzelanny bounced back nicely from a shaky outing against Arizona last time out, scattering six hits against seven strikeouts and one walk. He has now topped 100 pitches in each of his last two starts, so he is now properly stretched out after spending four weeks in the bullpen. With a 3.16 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 74 innings this season, he's worth owning in NL-only and deeper mixed leagues.

Tom Gorzelanny allowed one run in 3 1/3 innings after replacing Carlos Zambrano against the White Sox on Friday.

With Zambrano perhaps facing a suspension, Gorzelanny could get a start next week. He should be in the rotation over Randy Wells regardless. Wasted in the pen, he entered the day having pitched a total of three innings this month.

Tom Gorzelanny will be removed from the rotation on Wednesday to make room for Carlos Zambrano.

Gorzelanny started off the season well, but as temperatures rose in Chicago, so did his ERA. In two of his last three starts, Gorzelanny gave up five runs in just five innings of work, making him the likeliest candidate for demotion to the bullpen. Randy Wells' horrible start on Friday had some wondering if he, not Gorzelanny, might be removed from the rotation, but it was not to be.

Tom Gorzelanny returned to action on Wednesday May 26.

Tom Gorzelanny gave up seven runs -- five earned -- over five innings in a loss to the Dodgers on Wednesday night.

Gorzelanny, who was dealing with a finger injury, struck out five, walked three and gave up seven hits. It's not the kind of outing that will keep him in the rotation. With Carlos Zambrano set to rejoin the starters next week, Gorzelanny may be the odd man out.

Tom Gorzelanny (finger) said he plans to make his next start against the Dodgers on Wednesday.

Gorzelanny was hit on the left ring finger by a batted ball during a start against the Phillies last week, but said he was feeling pain-free on Tuesday. With Carlos Zambrano returning to the rotation in a little over week, Gorzelanny has extra incentive to get right back out on the mound and put together another impressive outing.

The X-rays on Tom Gorzelanny's left hand came back negative.

Gorzelanny was in the midst of a gem when he took a line drive off his pitching hand. He ended up with the win anyway, tossing 6 2/3 innings of shutout ball in Citizens Bank Park. There's upside here as he showed tonight, but is only on the radar in NL-only formats. It remains to be seen if he'll make his next start.