According to multiple reports on Sunday morning, Matt Garza will begin the season on the disabled list, and could miss the first month of the season with a possible return in May.
Matt Garza reportedly threw from flat ground on Saturday for the second time in three days, and was scheduled to have another throwing session on Monday. Garza’s left lat flared up again as he reportedly felt tightness during the session on Saturday. Garza said he is not ready to throw a baseball yet.
The Cubs and Matt Garza are looking for him to return in May. Garza admitted he is not ready to throw as baseball yet and that he would likely miss the first month of the season. Reports suggested that Garza has been shut down for 5-7 days for now. The Cubs have not announced a timetable for his return.
Depending on how long Garza is out over the next month will determine how much time he will miss at the beginning of the season. Dale Sveum said the Garza did not have a setback, just needs more time. But if Garza cannot throw, every week he is out it will take two weeks to get back to where he was prior to the injury. Garza was up to 45-50 pitches before injuring his left lat.
Sveum said that both Travis Wood and Carlos Villanueva will begin the season in the Cubs’ rotation with Garza out for the first month and Scott Baker not expected to be ready until at least the end of April.