Matt Garza feels good after a throwing session
By GORDON WITTENMYER gwittenmyer@suntimes.com April 26, 2013 7:08PM
Matt Garza
MIAMI – Cubs pitcher Matt Garza felt good enough after a throwing session Friday that he took to Twitter to proclaim his first minor-league rehab start for AA Tennessee will be Wednesday – “5/1 is my day.”
Also tweeted: “Had a tiny setback but everything is all good!”
Cubs manager Dale Sveum said Garza will throw from flat ground again Saturday, then have a bullpen session Sunday or Monday before making what’s expected to be a two-inning start for the Smokies.
Garza, whose rehab assignment was delayed by soreness following a side session Sunday, figures to need at least three rehab starts – “but it’s probably looking a little bit more like four,” Sveum said, “but not for sure.”
If it’s four starts, that would put him back sometime during the May 21-23 series at Pittsburgh – about a week later than the projections before his setback.
The Cubs have gotten a strong overall performance from the rotation in Garza’s absence, but Sveum said his return will be huge for the team.
“When you get one of the better pitchers in the National League back in a rotation that’s already throwing the heck out of the ball and doing a great job, it enhances it even more,” Sveum said.
