Late start for Cubs

The Cubs and Braves plan to start about 2 p.m. after a brief rain delay at Wrigley Field.

Rain prevented the game from starting as scheduled at 1:20 p.m. The grounds crew covered the infield with tarp shortly before the scheduled start time, prompting boos from disappointed fans.

The Cubs also made a late switch to their lineup after catcher Geovany Soto strained his left oblique muscle during batting practice Wednesday. Soto will undergo an MRI on the muscle near his ribcage and could miss the Cubs' weekend series against St. Louis.

Reserve catcher Koyie Hill will start in place of Soto, while Cubs manager Lou Piniella placed Ryan Theriot back in the lineup and benched Andres Blanco. Theriot was scheduled to receive the day off before Soto injured himself.

Here is the updated Cubs lineup:

1. Kosuke Fukudome, CF
2. Ryan Theriot, SS
3. Derrek Lee, 1B
4. Aramis Ramirez, 3B
5. Milton Bradley, RF
6. Jake Fox, LF
7. Jeff Baker, 2B
8. Koyie Hill, C
9. Kevin Hart, P

-Tom Musick