Carlos Marmol tossed a scoreless ninth inning in a non-save situation in Saturday's win over the Astros.

It wasn't easy. Marmol gave up a single to Jose Altuve and hit Carlos Corporan to begin the ninth inning. However, he was able to get Jason Michaels to ground into a fielder's choice, Michael Bourn on a strikeout and Angel Sanchez to fly out for the final out of the ballgame. We're not convinced he's fully back, but he's expected to get the next save opportunity.

Cubs manager Mike Quade said Carlos Marmol will officially regain his closer role beginning Saturday.

Quade was originally ready to re-insert Marmol into the role beginning Friday, but he changed his mind at the last moment and decided to use Sean Marshall in the role. ``I talked to [pitching coach Mark Riggins] right before the game and thought, `Let's see if we can set up with him and see his stuff,' which is as good as I've seen it,'' Quade said. ``He's a closer, and he's ready to go [Saturday].'' Marmol has posted a 3.65 ERA and 1.44 WHIP for the season while blowing seven of 26 save chances.

Expected to resume closing Friday, Carlos Marmol instead set up Sean Marshall by striking out the only two Astros he faced.

Manager Mike Quade indicated that he was ready to restore Marmol to the closer's role, but he used Marmol in the eighth and Sean Marshall in the ninth today. Marshall pitched a perfect inning for his third save in a 4-2 game. Marmol's success in the eighth could get him a save chance within the next couple of days.

Carlos Marmol tossed a scoreless inning Monday.

Marmol walked two Phillies hitters along the way, but he made it through the non-save situation unscathed. The Cubs are hoping the right-hander will be ready to resume handling save opportunities within the next couple of days. "I would like him to get the most out of his downtime and he has so far," manager Mike Quade said Monday. "If they feel good about it, we'll be good to go."

Cubs manager Mike Quade indicated that Carlos Marmol could make an appearance Monday against the Phillies.

Marmol was given two days off to work on his mechanics. Quade hasn't ruled out using him in a save situation, but we think he'll be eased back into the ninth inning. Sean Marshall is the best bet for saves at the moment.

Carlos Marmol was working on his mechanics with pitching coach Mark Riggins before Saturday's game.

Riggins said the fix they're working on is a minor one. Marmol has been temporarily removed from the closer's role while he gets straightened out, as he had a huge blowup Thursday and then had to be pulled from Friday's save chance. Sean Marshall and Kerry Wood will be used in the ninth inning for the time being.

Cubs manager Mike Quade confirmed that he will give Carlos Marmol a chance to work on his mechanics for a couple days.

Marmol melted down in epic fashion Thursday night and was well on his way to a repeat performance Friday before getting pulled. Quade said he'll use either Kerry Wood or Sean Marshall in the ninth inning for now. It's worth noting that Marshall saved the day Friday, so he's probably the best bet for those desperate for saves.

Carlos Marmol was pulled out of the save opportunity after giving up a run in the ninth Friday against the Marlins.

It's hard to tell what Marmol was doing out there in the first place after his horrible outing Thursday. He walked the leadoff man and gave up a pair of singles before coming out of this one. What saved him was Marlon Byrd throwing out Hanley Ramirez trying to stretch the second of those singles into a double. With two outs and the tying run on first, Sean Marshall relieved Marmol and struck out Mike Stanton to end the game. Marmol is still the Cubs' closer, but he's due at least one day off now, which could mean another save for Marshall or maybe Kerry Wood on Saturday.

Cubs manager Mike Quade said he wasn't sure if he would use Carlos Marmol as his closer Friday.

Quade was adamant after Marmol's meltdown Thursday that the righty was still his closer, so Friday would likely just be an opportunity to allow Marmol to catch his breath. Sean Marshall or Kerry Wood would be next in line if Marmol is avoided Friday.

Cubs manager Mike Quade assured reporters Thursday that Carlos Marmol is safe at closer.

Marmol lost control of his entire arsenal of pitches in a horribly blown save Thursday night against the Marlins. "That was pretty bad," Quade said. "That was as bad as I've seen him. Still, you feel he has a chance to pull it together but not tonight." Marmol's leash remains long.

Carlos Marmol recorded his 18th save in Thursday's win over the Nationals.

He didn't strike anyone out and walked one but also didn't give up a hit in a scoreless ninth. After his historic meltdown against the Astros on the last day of May, Marmol has allowed just one run since, and that came back on June 5. He holds a 2.21 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 11.5 K/BB ratio while converting 18 of 23 save chances this season.

Carlos Marmol blew his fifth save, but picked up the win in Chicago's 2-1 victory over the Giants on Wednesday.

After Ryan Dempster served up a leadoff double to Pat Burrell in the ninth inning, Marmol struck out Andres Torres before allowing an RBI single to Emmanuel Burriss. He would allow two more baserunners (one on an intentional walk) before inducing Cody Ross into an inning-ending double play. Marmol had converted six straight save opportunities coming into this evening, and has not allowed a run (of his own) in 8 1/3 innings.

Carlos Marmol has registered five consecutive scoreless appearances and has 14 saves on the year.

Marmol has experienced his fair share of hiccups this season, but he recorded a four-out save on Saturday against the mighty Yankees and still has one of the nastiest arsenals in the big leagues. The 28-year-old has a 2.78 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings.

Carlos Marmol pitched a perfect ninth Wednesday to earn his 11th save against the Reds.

Marmol needed this after a couple of blown saves that turned into particularly ugly Cubs losses. He's just 11-for-15 saving games this season, but there's no way the Cubs want to replace him.

Carlos Marmol will be available on Sunday despite pitching 1 2/3 innings in Chicago's extra-innings loss to the Cardinals on Saturday.

As will Kerry Wood and Sean Marshall. Although today was Marmol's longest outing of the season, he needed just 27 pitches to record his five outs, and should be fine in the mid-90s heat at Busch Stadium tomorrow afternoon.

Carlos Marmol suffered an historic meltdown Tuesday, allowing six earned runs in the ninth inning against the Astros.

Marmol entered a 3-1 game and allowed the six runs on five hits and a walk before being yanked having recorded just one out. The last time a Cubs pitcher allowed six runs in the ninth inning with Chicago leading entering the frame came in 1911. It was Marmol's second loss and third blown save of the season. This outing came out of nowhere. The 28-year-old hadn't allowed a run since April 20 and had given up just four hits in May prior to Tuesday's implosion. His ERA ballooned all the way from 1.17 to 3.47.

Carlos Marmol hasn't allowed a run since April 20.

In fact, he's allowed just four hits since that date. The effectively wild 28-year-old has nine saves, a 1.29 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP and a 27/10 K/BB rate in 21 innings.

Carlos Marmol has not allowed a run this month.

Marmol hasn't even allowed a hit, in fact. The effectively wild 28-year-old has eight saves, a 1.62 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP in 16 2/3 innings. He also has 22 strikeouts.

Carlos Marmol earned his seventh save of the season over the weekend against the Diamondbacks.

Marmol has already blown two save opportunities this year, but his strikeout rate is still fantastic and he remains one of the most valuable fantasy closers. In 13 2/3 innings, he has fanned a whopping 17 batters.

Carlos Marmol picked up his second save of the year in Monday's defeat of the Diamondbacks.

Marmol choked away a lead on Sunday against the Pirates, but everything clicked back together for him Monday afternoon at a frigid Wrigley Field and he delivered a scoreless ninth inning. He remains a top tier fantasy closer.