Cubs’ Garza looking less likely to return this season


(David Banks-US PRESSWIRE)

The Chicago Cubs have some decisions to make with their starting pitching.

For the injured Matt Garza, it’s beginning to look as if time might run out on a return to the rotation this season. And for Jeff Samardzija, the team says it’s monitoring his workload but has no plans to shut him down.

Garza has not pitched since July 21 because of what the Cubs say is a stress reaction in his right elbow. He is more than a week away from throwing again. Although Garza is working to get back this year, there might not be enough time for him to build his strength back and possibly go out on a rehab assignment.

“It’s hard to say,” team president Theo Epstein said before Tuesday night’s 10-1 loss to the Houston Astros. “Obviously, the priority is to let it heal. There’s no need to rush him back. Let it heal and put him in a position to be 100 percent. He’s got a big year next year for the Cubs.”

Manager Dale Sveum left the door open, but just a touch.

“I don’t want to say unlikely that he’ll be back, but it’ll probably take a lot of hard work and some things to happen in the healing process to get back because you’re going to run out of time basically to throw all the sides, the rehab starts wherever that might be at the time,” Sveum said. “So it’ll be kind of tough, but some guys heal quicker and things happen quicker than others.

“Well, we don’t know if we’re going to risk it yet. We’re going to have to evaluate all that as it goes along. It could happen, what could happen. But once it gets to a certain time you’re probably going to have to make a decision, no or yes. We’ll see what goes on. You’re never going to risk anything for at best two starts or something anyway.”

Samardzija is in his first full year as a starter in the major leagues. He reached 139 2/3 innings pitched for the season Monday night.

“We’re monitoring things and talking it about it, but it’s not something that we really engage him on,” Epstein said. “We just let him go. We’ve got (pitching coach Chris Bosio) and Dale and the front office talking about it, and we’ll do what we think is best for him long term.”