Chicago Cubs Matt Garza might not be able to pitch this season – MLB News
The Chicago Cubs starter Matt Garza is no longer certain if he will be able to pitch again this season. On Monday, August 6, reports suggested that the starter was diagnosed with a stress reaction in the back of the right elbow, prompting the team to sideline him for an indefinite period.
Garza was supposed to have a start on Tuesday, the Cubs had said on Saturday. But all that has now changed. The last time he had pitched was on July 21 wherein he had to exit the game after only three innings.
It was cramping in his right triceps that forced the team to take him out of the game. However, there were expectations that Garza would soon return but to the disappointment and surprise of the club this did not materialise.
The team general manager Jed Hoyer said that the Cubs will re-evaluate him and then make the decision. In his absence then, the Cubs are all set to promote Brooks Raley from Triple-A Iowa to have his Major League Debut on Tuesday when the Cubs will take on the San Diego Padres.
"We'll keep reevaluating him and will make that decision when he picks up a ball and starts throwing again," Hoyer said. "To speculate right now on his status for the season wouldn't be right. Today, we got the diagnosis, talked about it and we'll make a decision when it's right.”
Jed Hoyer did refer to the last chat that the team had with him wherein it was suggested that Garza would be able to pitch on Tuesday. Hoyer struck an optimistic note about the return of the player, nonetheless.
"He felt really good, as he told [the media] on Saturday, and that's the surprise of it," Hoyer said. "Matt's a competitor and he'll want to get out there and get going. He'll be eager to get back and we'll wind up holding him back to an extent."
With Paul Maholm and Ryan Dempster – two of the team’s starter, already gone, Garza’s absence will certainly be felt due largely to the experience and force he brought for the Cubs.
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