01:00 AM EDT on Sunday, June 18, 2006

Mark Prior will make his first start of the season today for the Chicago Cubs against the Detroit Tigers after missing the first 2 1/2 months with a strained shoulder.

"It's been a long, hard road, but I'm glad that Mark's getting back on the mound," manager Dusty Baker said before yesterday's game.

Already on a slower-paced program to avoid the elbow problems he experienced the previous two springs, Prior strained a muscle in his right shoulder in March and began the season on the disabled list for the third straight year.

He made four minor-league rehab starts, allowing one unearned run and four hits while striking out 10 in 6 2/3 innings for Triple-A Iowa at New Orleans on Tuesday night. He threw 90 pitches in that game and will probably be limited to about 90 today.

"He threw 90 his last game, so that's what we're looking for," pitching coach Larry Rothschild said of Prior, who also made two rehab starts at Single-A and one at Double-A.

He began last season on the DL with a sore elbow, went back last month after taking a line drive in the elbow and finished 11-7 in 27 starts. He's been there six times in all.

Prior's best season was 2003, when he was 18-6 and led the Cubs to the playoffs. Now, he's rejoining a team that has been in a downward spiral since first baseman Derrek Lee broke two bones just above his right wrist joint in a collision with the Dodgers' Rafael Furcal on April 19. The Cubs went from 9-5 after beating Los Angeles that night to 26-40 and fifth in the NL Central entering yesterday's game, losing 12 of 13 at one point.

OTHER GAMES ANGELS GO WITH COLON: The Angels activated reigning Cy Young Award-winner Bartolo Colon from the 15-day disabled list after Friday night's 5-4 loss to the San Diego Padres, and optioned rookie right-hander Jered Weaver to Triple-A Salt Lake. The decision to send the younger brother of Angels righty Jeff Weaver to the minors was a tough one for general manager Bill Stoneman and manager Mike Scioscia. Jered Weaver, the team's No. 1 draft pick in 2004, was 4-0 with a 1.37 ERA in four starts after his promotion on May 26. Colon, who will pitch today against the Padres after three rehab outings, is 0-2 in three starts for the Angels with a 7.07 ERA.

CLAUSSEN ON DL: The Reds placed left-hander Brandon Claussen on the 15-day disabled list because of a sore arm. Claussen hasn't won since May 19, going 0-4 in five starts while jeopardizing his spot in the rotation. Reliever Joe Mays is expected to make Claussen's scheduled start next Wednesday against the Mets in New York.

FLOYD OUT ON ANKLE: The New York Mets placed left fielder Cliff Floyd on the disabled list last night because of a sprained left ankle. Floyd was injured June 6 at Los Angeles running the bases in the top of the second inning and had to be helped off the field. His DL assignment is retroactive to June 7. Floyd was hitting .238 in 51 games with six home runs and 19 RBI. Outfielder Xavier Nady, placed on the DL on May 30 because of an appendicitis, will complete a rehab program at Triple-A Norfolk this weekend and is expected to rejoin the Mets tomorrow or Tuesday.