MRI reveals ‘mild strain’ for Cubs’ Matt Garza
BY GORDON WITTENMYER gwittenmyer@suntimes.com February 19, 2013 10:55AM
Chicago Cubs pitcher Matt Garza throws during a spring training baseball workout Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012, in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
MESA, Ariz. — After an MRI revealed a “mild strain” in his lower left lat area, the team said Tuesday that Cubs right-hander Matt Garza will be shut down for at least a week, which could put his status for the start of the regular season in doubt.
Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer described the news as “positive.”
``It’s safe to say it pushes back his first Cactus League start,’’ he said. ``What it means for the regular season it’s clearly much too early to say, but we felt like it was really good news. It is a mild strain. We do think it’ll be about a week and he’ll be pain-free, based on the MRI.
``We’re optimistic. It was certainly a positive read from out standpoint.’’
Garza, who spent the last two months of the 2012 season on the disabled list because of a “stress reaction” in his elbow, suffered the latest injury – where the lat meets the oblique on the left side – while throwing batting practice to teammates Sunday.
