Ryan Dempster (quad) will return to the Cubs' rotation on Thursday against the Reds in Cincinnati.

Dempster progressed nicely from his quadriceps injury, needing only a minimum stint on the 15-day disabled list while missing just two starts. He's pitched very well in the early part of the season, though fantasy owners may want to wait a week to let him shake off the rust. The Reds' offense presents a difficult matchup.

Ryan Dempster (quadriceps) is progressing nicely in his recovery from a quadriceps injury and is expected to only miss one more start.

Randy Wells filled in for Dempster on Sunday, and will do so again on Saturday against the Phillies. Assuming no setbacks, Dempster could return to the Cubs rotation by next weekend.

Cubs placed RHP Ryan Dempster on the 15-day disabled list with a right quad injury.

The results from an MRI on Friday aren't yet known, but Dempster won't be making his next scheduled start. The Cubs promoted OF Tony Campana in a corresponding move. Randy Wells is expected to be called up Sunday. Dempster remains without a timetable.

Ryan Dempster is questionable to make his scheduled start Sunday due to a right quad injury.

Dempster required an MRI, the results of which are not yet known. It's not clear when he suffered the injury, but he pitched well in his last start, allowing just two runs (both unearned) while striking out eight over six innings. The Cubs have summoned Randy Wells from Triple-A Iowa to hang around just in case he's needed.

Ryan Dempster suffered his first loss of the season, but pitched well enough to win in surrendering two runs on five hits over 6 2/3 innings.

He also walked three and fanned five. In two starts, Dempster is the hard-luck owner of an 0-1 record with a 1.88 ERA and 0.91 WHIP.

Ryan Dempster allowed one run on four hits and three walks in 4 2/3 innings of Friday's 6-3 loss to the Dodgers.

Making what was likely his final start of the spring, Dempster also notched three punchouts. Not a dominating note to go out on, but Dempster still finishes Cactus League play with a solid 3.26 ERA compiled over 19 1/3 innings. His 11/8 K/BB leaves much to be desired, but isn't a major worry heading into the regular season. That being said, Dempster struggled mightily last April before going on to post a 3.94 ERA and 162/66 K/BB ratio in 171 1/3 innings after May 1.

The Cubs have named Ryan Dempster their Opening Day starter.

He gets the nod over Matt Garza, who is a superior pitcher but doesn't have the tenure in a Cubs uniform that Dempster does. It will be the second straight Opening Day nod for Dempster, who had a disastrous April last season before settling in after that. Paul Maholm will get the ball in the team's fifth game, with the No. 3 and No. 4 starters yet to be determined. Jeff Samardzjia is expected to grab one of the spots.

Cubs' manager Dale Sveum plans to announce his Opening Day starter on Friday.

It will either be Ryan Dempster or Matt Garza, who will make his fourth start of the spring Thursday. Dempster started on Opening Day last year and is currently lined up for the assignment.

Ryan Dempster pitched well against the Rangers Tuesday, limiting them to two runs on four hits and two walks over six innings.

He struck out three, with the lone blemish coming in the form of a Dusty Brown two-run homer. It's a nice bounce-back effort from last week, when Dempster gave up eight hits and three runs over 3 2/3 frames. He'll be the Cubs' No. 2 starter this season.

Ryan Dempster was knocked around by the Diamondbacks Thursday, giving up three runs on eight hits and a walk over 3 2/3 innings of work.

He did strike out three, and six of the eight hits were singles, but it's obviously not an ideal showing from the veteran. Of course, Dempster is a 14-year-veteran, so what he does during spring training is of little to no consequence.

Ryan Dempster tossed three shutout innings in Saturday's Cactus League win over the Brewers.

Dempster walked two batters and surrendered two hits, but he did a nice job of damage control in his second outing of the spring. The 34-year-old right-hander will be looking to get off to a hot start this season after experiencing some early-season sluggishness last April.

Ryan Dempster allowed one run on two hits in two innings of work against the A's on Monday.

He fanned two and walked none. Dempster turned in a 2.57 spring ERA last season before posting a disastrous 9.57 mark in 31 April frames. He was solid the rest of the way, however, registering a 3.94 ERA and 162/66 K/BB ratio in 171 1/3 innings after May 1.

Ryan Dempster exercised his 2012 option with the Cubs.

The news comes as no surprise as the Cubs owe him $14 million next season which is well above his market value. Dempster eclipsed the 200 inning mark for the fourth consecutive year, but posted his worst statistical season since 2003. The 34-year-old right-hander went 10-14 with a 4.80 ERA, while seeing his strikeout numbers decline. Chicago is expected to look into alternatives that would allow them to potentially buy him out of his current status, though his return appears likely at this point.

Cubs starter Ryan Dempster was shelled by the Padres on Wednesday, giving up nine earned runs on eight hits and four walks with seven strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings in a 9-2 loss.

It was a fitting finish to the season for Dempster, who ends 2011 with a 10-14 record and 4.80 ERA over 202 1/3 innings. Eclipsing the 200 inning mark for the fourth straight year, the 34-year-old pitched had arguably his worst season since 2003, which was his last season with Cincinnati. Unless Chicago finds a way to buy Dempster out of his $14 million player option for 2012, it won't be his last season with the Cubs.

Ryan Dempster will start the season finale next Wednesday against the Padres.

It could be his final start as a member of the Cubs, though we fully expect him to exercise his $14 million player option for next season. Casey Coleman will start the series opener on Monday while Matt Garza makes his final start of the season Tuesday.

Ryan Dempster was unable to get past a poor first inning Sunday, giving up three runs on seven hits and two walks over seven innings in a loss to the Astros.

He struck out two. All three runs Dempster allowed came home in the first, and by the time he settled in, the damage was already done. The veteran right-hander is winless over his last seven outings despite posting quality starts in all but one of them. He'll shoot for win No. 11 in St. Louis next weekend.

Ryan Dempster allowed three runs on 10 hits and two walks in six innings on Wednesday, taking a no-decision in Chicago's 6-3 win over the Reds.

Dempster struck out two in his eighth quality start in nine outings. Now the owner of a 4.74 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 169/64 K/BB ratio through 176 2/3 innings, he'll get the Reds again next Tuesday, this time in Cincinnati.

Ryan Dempster is expected to exercise his $14 million player option for next season.

Dempster, 34, isn't sure what the team will look like next year with a new general manager coming in, but he lives in Chicago full-time now and is not looking to leave. It's possible he might try to re-negotiate a multi-year extension in lieu of picking up the option. ``Sometimes when you're sitting there and you have uncertainty and you don't know, things can be intimidating," Dempster said. "But at the same time, it can be exciting, especially with people like [the Ricketts ownership], and especially Tom [Ricketts]. As much as he's done in his professional life, to think what he's going to do with the Cubs is actually kind of exciting.''

Ryan Dempster held the Brewers to three runs over six innings Monday in a 3-0 loss.

He struck out eight and walked three while giving up six hits. He'd won three consecutive starts prior to this evening, but still remains above .500, at 10-9, on the season. He'll take a 4.60 ERA into a date against the Brewers this weekend.

Ryan Dempster limited the Nationals to one run and three hits over seven innings to pick up his 10th win Thursday.

Jordan Zimmermann matched Dempster for six innings, but the Cubs got to him for three runs in the seventh and went on to win 4-3. Dempster moved to 9-1 with a 2.82 ERA against the Nationals in his career. He's won three straight starts.