Injury updates on Kerry Wood and Ryan Dempster; Enter to win tickets to the Dempster Family Foundation Casino Night

The Cubs will play the Philadelphia Phillies tonight at 6:05pm, where Paul Maholm will try for his second win this season.  In the meantime, following is an update on Cubs players currently on the disabled list.

Kerry Wood threw a bullpen session today and is scheduled to throw a simulated game on Monday.  He could come off the disabled list on Thursday, May 3rd.

Kerry Wood could return from the disabled list on May 3rd (photo from Chicago Tribune)

Ryan Dempster is on track to come off the disabled list on time (also Thursday, May 3rd).  This means that Randy Wells would make one more start on Saturday before Dempster comes back next week.

Starter Ryan Dempster could return on May 3rd from the DL (photo from Chicago Tribune)

Randy Wells is expected to make one more start in place of Ryan Dempster on April 28th (photo from Chicago Tribune)

Jeff Samardzija's next start has been pushed back one day to Tuesday, May 1st and a reason hasn't been given.  Chris Volstad will pitch on Monday's game against the Phillies.

Former Cubs centerfielder Marlon Byrd says that he will miss being a Cub and told Tony Campana, whom he mentored in Campana's 2011 rookie season, that he can call Byrd anytime with any questions.  What a genuinely nice guy!

Pitcher Ryan Dempster and his wife Jenny's Dempster Family Foundation will be hosting the third annual Casino Night on Wednesday, May 9th at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago.  WGN-TV is giving away a pair of tickets online.  Click on this link to enter the giveaway from now through Friday, May 4th at 11:59am CT.  Guests at Casino Night will get the chance to mingle and play casino games with Ryan and Jenny, Chicago Cubs players, coaches, and front office personnel, and other celebrity friends from the sports and entertainment industries.  For more information on the event, you can visit http://dempsterfamilyfoundation.org/casinonight/