The Chicago Cubs today placed right-handed pitcher Ryan Dempster on the 15-day disabled list with a great right toe fracture. To replace Dempster on the roster, the Cubs recalled right-handed pitcher Kevin Hart from Triple-A Iowa.

Carlos Zambrano, who was scheduled to start tomorrow, will instead make the start tonight against the Atlanta Braves at Wrigley Field. Hart is scheduled to start the series finale for the Cubs tomorrow afternoon.

Dempster is 5-5 with a 4.09 ERA (48 ER/105.2 IP) in 17 starts for the Cubs this season. He has struck out 89 batters and walked 44 while limiting opponents to a .258 batting average.

Hart, who had been optioned to Iowa yesterday, has no record and a 1.59 ERA (1 ER/5.2 IP) in four relief appearances for the Cubs this season. He has limited opponents to a .167 batting average against, including a .143 mark by righthanders and a .250 mark by lefthanders. He was first recalled by the Cubs on June 21.

The 26-year-old Hart is 3-3 with a 3.10 ERA (18 ER/52.1 IP) in 22 games (six starts) with Iowa this season. Prior to his June 21 recall, his final six appearances with Iowa came as a starter. Hart went 3-0 with a 1.41 ERA (5 ER/32.0 IP) in those six starts, striking out 32 batters and walking only 14 in 32.0 innings. Opponents recorded only a .157 batting average against Hart in those six starts.

Hart split the 2008 campaign between Chicago and Iowa, breaking camp with the major league club for the first time in his career. He appeared in 21 games during four stints with the Cubs, going 2-2 with a 6.51 ERA (20 ER/27.2 IP), picking up his first career victory April 5 vs. Houston with 1.2 shutout relief innings. With Iowa, he posted a 2.81 ERA (18 ER/57.2 IP) in 26 games (10 starts) while going 4-2 with five saves.

Originally selected by the Orioles in the 11th round of the 2004 Draft, Hart made his big league debut with Chicago in 2007 as a September call-up. He made eight relief appearances and posted a 0.82 ERA (1 ER/11.0 IP), earning him a spot on Chicago’s post-season roster.