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PHILADELPHIA -- Kerry Wood and Nomar Garciaparra are expected to rejoin the Cubs by this weekend, and the team hopes they can help Chicago make a push in the NL wild-card race.

Wood said his right arm was loose and feeling good after a couple of minor league rehabilitation outings. He expects to pitch out of the bullpen the rest of the season in an effort to reduce the strain on his arm.

"Obviously, I've got to get through the season and stay healthy the rest of the way," Wood said before Wednesday night's game against Philadelphia. "But at this particular point, my role is to come out of the 'pen and help the team that way."

Wood (3-3, 4.67 ERA) pitched in relief for the second appearance of his rehab assignment Tuesday night and retired all four batters he faced for the Class A Peoria Chiefs in Peoria, Ill. The right-hander, on the disabled list since July 20 due to inflammation in his right shoulder, threw 12 of 15 pitches for strikes.

"The pain went away," Wood said. "I don't have any pain when I'm throwing."

Garciaparra went 1-for-3 Wednesday in his final rehabilitation game at Double-A West Tenn, then said he would rejoin the Cubs in Philadelphia immediately.

Garciaparra had a single and two flyouts in six innings. The All-Star shortstop went 3-for-13 in four games with the Diamond Jaxx.

He has been on the disabled list since injuring his groin in April.

Manager Dusty Baker expected Garciaparra to start Friday night against the New York Mets. Baker said Garciaparra would hit lower in the lineup, maybe fifth or sixth, until he gets his legs back.

"Our greatest cause of concern would be day-after-night games," Baker said.

Garciaparra, a five-time All-Star, stayed on the field for nine innings Tuesday for the first time during a five-game rehab stint with the Diamond Jaxx and Peoria. Baker wasn't sure if Garciaparra would play the entire game his first time out against the Mets.

The Cubs desperately need both stars to be healthy and productive, with the team only four games behind wild-card leader Houston entering play Wednesday night.

Baker and Wood downplayed talk that the right-hander could become the Cubs' closer, just as John Smoltz did with Atlanta.

Ryan Dempster has a team-leading 15 saves, but Baker said he probably wouldn't use him Wednesday after Dempster threw 41 pitches in a save against the Phillies the night before.

Baker said a game such as Wednesday's was a case when he would have used Wood, if he was available.

"It could be anything," Baker said of Wood's role. "Preferably, it's a six-inning arm, but we don't know. It could be a couple of innings."

Wood only said he'll be ready to go whenever the Cubs need him.

"At this point, I just like being out there," he said.

While Wood said he could be shut down this season if the Cubs fall out of the race, he only wanted to think about helping them reach the postseason. He also expects to be ready and recovered by next season, even if surgery is needed.

"I fully expect to be ready for spring training if we do do something," he said. "It's not going to be something that's prolonged. The recovery, hopefully, is going to be short."

Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press