Convalescence Watch: Garza, Fujikawa, Stewart, Baker, Vizcaino

gods-wrathThere are so many injuries to update that it’s just makes more sense to do it this way …

  • Matt Garza’s two-inning simulated start went off without a hitch yesterday, though Dale Sveum noted that Garza was a little rusty. The plan is to have him throw 45 pitches at AA Tennessee on Wednesday (April 24), and, if that goes well, make two more rehab starts (April 29, May 4) before returning to the Cubs. Getting Garza back by May 10-ish would be pretty great, all things considered.
  • Ian Stewart’s rehab at Iowa is going fine, even if he doesn’t have a hit. The real problem has been the rain, which hasn’t allowed him to play consistently over a stretch of games. Dale Sveum says Stewart needs to get about a week straight of games in before he comes back to the Cubs. If all goes well, then, we could see Stewart back with the Cubs by the end of this month. Even though Luis Valbuena is playing fairly well at third, Stewart is expected to take over as the starter when he comes back.
  • Kyuji Fujikawa threw off flat ground yesterday for the first time since hitting the DL with a forearm strain on April 13. If he can get back on the mound within a few days, he could be ready to come back when his DL stint is up at the end of April.
  • We haven’t heard anything about Scott Baker’s checkup in Chicago this past week – the hope was that it was the final step before he could start throwing again. You’ll recall, in his first Spring appearance, coming back from Tommy John surgery, he felt some discomfort in his arm, and was shut down. Since then, we’ve heard very little, but there’s been no reason to project him to return before June. Well, Paul Sullivan writes that Baker is not expected back until after the All-Star break. If true, that would be news (even if it would be unsurprising). Until we hear that he’s throwing off of the mound, however, there’s no sense in projecting a return at any point whatsoever.
  • Speaking of Tommy John recoveries pitching off of the mound, I’d like to hear an update about Arodys Vizcaino’s progress. He was never expected to join a team until a couple months into the season, but if that’s going to happen, he’d have to be throwing off of the mound with regularity in extended Spring Training these days.
  • written by

    Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation. You can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation, on Bluesky at @Brett-Taylor, and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

    more cubs news

    The Reported Asking Price for White Sox Ace Garrett Crochet is VERY High

    [BN_drinks] This morning, Bruce Levine hopped on 670 The Score to share a handful of rumors as we approach Juan Soto's final decision (this weekend?) and the start of the Winter Meetings. Among the more notable bits, Levine reports that...

    Here is a Sliver of Roki Sasaki Hope If You Like

    Although our expectations on Japanese ace Roki Sasaki have been about as low as you can get for every team outside of the Los Angeles Dodgers (with an only slightly more non-zero shot for the San Diego Padres), Jeff Passan...

    Too Many Lefties is Probably Not a Concern Here, MLBPA Changes, Tepera Returning(?), and Other Cubs Bullets

    Got an out-of-town appointment today, so it's a bit of a road trip with The Little Boy. Hopefully I can avoid missing out on anything too major, but the good news is that he's a BN reader these days, so...

    Dodgers Out on Soto? Just About There on Hernández?

    With word coming down that we could hear about a Juan Soto decision BEFORE the Winter Meetings start on Monday, and having already known that Soto was in the process of eliminating teams, it is perhaps not a surprise that...

    Jeff Passan Gives Definitive Timeline for Juan Soto Decision (And It’s Very Soon)

    Unlike some recent winters, this MLB offseason hasn't really been held up by Juan Soto's pending choice between $600M+ offers (he may have as many as FIVE on the table). But it is still an enormous domino with a lot...

    Korean Infielder Hyeseong Kim Has Officially Been Posted

    Add another player to the positional pool of available free agents, as star KBO infielder Hyeseong Kim has been posted for MLB teams. https://twitter.com/Feinsand/status/1864358631308726303 Hyeseong Kim - not to be confused with fellow Korean (and also a free agent infielder)...

    REPORT: Cubs Have Discussed Nico Hoerner Trade with Mariners

    [BN_drinks] The Cubs' willingness to trade Nico Hoerner (and desire to add impact starting pitching) and the Mariners' desire to acquire big-league infield help (and willingness to deal from their crop of impact starting pitchers) should be news to no...

    Is More TV and Streaming Certainty Helping Move the Free Agent Market Along?

    As discussed this morning, the long-standing Diamond bankruptcy, with the former Bally-branded Regional Sports Networks wrapped up therein, has more or less finally fully resolved as far as MLB teams are concerned. The company, with the RSNs rebranded under the...

    Pat and Ron Officially Returning, Palencia in VZ, TV Deals in Place, and Other Cubs Bullets

    Nobody likes change, and it's good to know that at least one very important part of our Chicago Cubs fan experience will not be changing ... The Cubs have made it officially official on Pat and Ron, staying in the...

    REPORT: Cubs Are a “Viable Candidate” to Acquire Garrett Crochet

    A surprisingly specific report this morning from Jon Morosi, who names two NL Central clubs that are apparently sufficiently in on White Sox lefty Garrett Crochet that a trade could happen. One of them is the Cubs: . @MLB trade...

    Latest News

    Buccaneers vs. Panthers Week 13 Tickets – Sunday, December 1, 2024

    The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6) face an NFC South foe when they go on the road to play the Carolina Panthers (3-7) on Sunday, December 1, 2024.Where to Buy Buccaneers vs. Panthers TicketsIf you're in the market to buy tickets...

    The Reported Asking Price for White Sox Ace Garrett Crochet is VERY High

    [BN_drinks] This morning, Bruce Levine hopped on 670 The Score to share a handful of rumors as we approach Juan Soto's final decision (this weekend?) and the start of the Winter Meetings. Among the more notable bits, Levine reports that...

    Bears-Lions Make TV History, Defense Excited for TB, Billings is the Man, and Other Bears Bullets

    Tomorrow is Friday. And I feel as if the sooner I push through this set of BN Bears Bullets, the sooner I'll make it to Friday. It has been one week since the Chicago Bears last played a football game....

    It’s Time for the Blackhawks to Call Frank Nazar

    I have consistently -- to a fault in the eyes of many -- preached patience with the Blackhawks' rebuild. Development is not linear and individuals mature at different rates -- that's reality. Some players take years to be ready for...

    Here is a Sliver of Roki Sasaki Hope If You Like

    Although our expectations on Japanese ace Roki Sasaki have been about as low as you can get for every team outside of the Los Angeles Dodgers (with an only slightly more non-zero shot for the San Diego Padres), Jeff Passan...

    Andrew Billings is the Chicago Bears’ Nominee for the 2024 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award

    The Chicago Bears and the NFL have bestowed quite the honor on Andrew Billings. Billings is the Chicago Bears' nominee for the prestigious Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award for 2024. This is one of the most notable...

    Jets vs. Sabres Prediction: Picks, Live Odds and Moneyline – Thursday, December 5, 2024

    The oddsmakers pick the Winnipeg Jets to top the Buffalo Sabres in their game on Thursday, December 5, with the visiting Jets given moneyline odds of -135, and the Sabres at +114.Watch the NHL on Fubo!Jets vs. Sabres Favorite, Moneyline,...

    Hurricanes vs. Avalanche Prediction: Picks, Live Odds and Moneyline – Thursday, December 5, 2024

    The Carolina Hurricanes welcome the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday, and are -155 favorites on the moneyline, with the visiting team at +130.Watch the NHL on Fubo!Hurricanes vs. Avalanche Favorite, Moneyline, TotalFavorite: Hurricanes (-155)Underdog: Avalanche (+130)Total: 6.5Best Hurricanes vs. Avalanche Promo...

    Lightning vs. Sharks Prediction: Live Odds, Stats, History and Picks – Thursday, December 5, 2024

    The Tampa Bay Lightning are pegged by oddsmakers to top the San Jose Sharks when they match up on Thursday at 7:00 PM ET, with the Lightning at -285 on the moneyline, and the visiting Sharks heavy underdogs at +230.Watch...

    Islanders vs. Kraken Prediction: Picks, Live Odds and Moneyline – Thursday, December 5, 2024

    The New York Islanders welcome the Seattle Kraken on December 5 at 7:30 PM ET, and have been made -130 favorites, with the away team at +110.Watch the NHL on Fubo!Islanders vs. Kraken Favorite, Moneyline, TotalFavorite: Islanders (-130)Underdog: Kraken (+110)Total:...

    Panthers vs. Flyers Prediction: Odds, Picks, Best Bets – Thursday, December 5, 2024

    The Florida Panthers have been made -170 favorites over the Philadelphia Flyers (+142) despite their matchup on Thursday being at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.Watch the NHL on Fubo!Panthers vs. Flyers Favorite, Moneyline, TotalFavorite: Panthers (-170)Underdog: Flyers (+142)Total: 6Best Panthers...

    more cubs news