Matt Garza Injury Update: Cubs Hopeful Pitcher Will Avoid DL

With the Chicago Cubs out of the playoff hunt, there is little doubt that they will be "sellers" as the trade deadline approaches. One of the assets at their disposal is Matt Garza, who was forced to leave his start on Saturday with an injury. However, in a piece of good news for the Cubs, ESPNChicago is reporting that Garza feels confident he will avoid a stint on the DL:

"I think obviously it was just 12 hours ago that we talked about it," Sveum said. "But he did seem to come in here today with a lot better frame of mind and very optimistic that he won't have to be on the DL, and he may even make his next start. We have a day off (Thursday), so we have the luxury with some stuff we can do."

A healthy Garza is a huge asset for the Cubs at the deadline, with numerous teams looking to add a quality starter for the playoff push.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more comprehensive coverage, visit Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more MLB coverage, check out Baseball Nationas well as MLB Daily Dish. Cardinals coverage is available at SB Nation St. Louis and Viva El Birdos.

Cubs Vs. Cardinals Score Update: Chicago Swept By St. Louis

Heading into their series with the St. Louis Cardinals, the Chicago Cubs were playing some of their best baseball of the season. The Cubs had won 5 out of 6 since the All-Star break, but completely sputtered in St. Louis. After dropping their first two games, the Cubs were shutout for the second straight day, falling 7-0 in the series-finale. St. Louis outscored Chicago 23-1 over the course of the three-game series.

The Cubs offense had no answer for Lance Lynn on Sunday, as he held them to just five hits in six innings. Lynn improved his record to 12-4 and dropped his ERA to 3.10 with the win. Travis Wood struggled from the beginning of his outing, allowing four runs in the opening inning. He also allowed back-to-back homers from Matt Holliday and Carlos Beltran in the fifth inning.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more comprehensive coverage, visit Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more MLB coverage, check out Baseball Nationas well as MLB Daily Dish. Cardinals coverage is available at SB Nation St. Louis and Viva El Birdos.

Cubs Roster 2012: Chicago Recalls Jeff Beliveau, Options Rafael Dolis To Triple-A

Looking to shake up the bullpen, the Chicago Cubs have optioned Rafael Dolis to Triple-A Iowa and promoted Jeff Beliveau to take his roster spot, as Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports. Dolis was expected to play a key role in Chicago's bullpen this year but he's struggled badly in his time with the team.

At one point, it seemed possible that the 24-year-old Dolis would emerge as one of the Cubs' top relievers, but he's struggled badly with his command so far this season. Over 29.1 innings this year, the hard-throwing Dolis has posted a 6.44 ERA with 14 strikeouts and 20 walks.

Beliveau, 25, will be making his MLB debut with the Cubs after spending roughly four years in the minor leagues. In 40 innings with Iowa this season, he's posted a 4.05 ERA with 47 strikeouts and 17 walks.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more comprehensive coverage, visit Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more MLB coverage, check out Baseball Nationas well as MLB Daily Dish. Cardinals coverage is available at SB Nation St. Louis and Viva El Birdos.

Cubs Vs. Cardinals Lineups: Travis Wood Takes The Mound On Sunday

Coming off arguably his worst performance of the year, Travis Wood takes the mound for the Chicago Cubs on Sunday afternoon against the St. Louis Cardinals. The young lefty was in the midst of a serious roll before stumbling badly against the Miami Marlins on July 17, his most recent appearance.

Entering his start against Miami, Wood had posted a 1.99 ERA over 45.1 innings in his past seven starts, showing precisely why the Cubs acquired him from Cincinnati during the offseason. He didn't fare quite as well against the Marlins, though, allowing eight runs over 4.2 innings in a frustrating defeat.

Chicago:

1. David DeJesus (L) CF
2. Starlin Castro (R) SS
3. Anthony Rizzo (L) 1B
4. Alfonso Soriano (R) LF
5. Bryan LaHair (L) RF
6. Steve Clevenger (L) C
7. Darwin Barney (R) 2B
8. Luis Valbuena (L) 3B
9. Travis Wood (L) P

Related: Cubs vs. Cardinals Preview: Cubs Can Salvage Series With Win

St. Louis:

1. Tyler Greene (R) 2B
2. Allen Craig (R) 1B
3. Matt Holliday (R) LF
4. Carlos Beltran (S) RF
5. David Freese (R) 3B
6. Jon Jay (L) CF
7. Tony Cruz (R) C
8. Daniel Descalso (L) SS
9. Kyle Lohse (R) P

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more comprehensive coverage, visitCubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more MLB coverage, check out Baseball Nation as well as MLB Daily Dish. Cardinals coverage is available at SB Nation St. Louis and Viva El Birdos.

Cubs Vs. Cardinals Preview: Cubs Can Salvage Series With Win

The Chicago Cubs entered their weekend series versus the St. Louis Cardinals as the hottest team in the National League, but they've quickly fallen back down to earth in the last two games. After Saturday night's 12-0 loss, the Cubs have been outscored 16-1 this weekend, and will be looking to avoid a sweep with a win on Sunday.

On the mound for the Cubs will be Travis Wood, who had a streak of seven straight quality starts broken this past week when he gave up eight earned runs to the Miami Marlins. Wood has yet to face the Cardinals this season, but he has been significantly better on the road this year, posting a 2.73 ERA in five starts.

Opposing him will be Cardinals starter Lance Lynn, who has rebounded from a rough May to give up only one earned run in 13 innings over his last two starts. Lynn has also owned Chicago this season, giving up only two earned runs in 13.1 innings while striking out 12 batters.

Game time/date: Sunday, July 22, 1:15 p.m. CT

Location: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Mo.

TV: WGN

For more on the Cardinals stick with SB Nation St. Louis or head over to Viva El Birdos. Cubs news and analysis is available at Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more news, notes and analysis from around the league, check out Baseball Nation.

Matt Garza Injury Update: Cubs Pitcher Day-To-Day With Cramps

Chicago Cubs starter Matt Garza exited Saturday night's game vs. the St. Louis Cardinals after three innings, but it wasn't because he had been traded. Instead, Garza was experiencing cramps in his right triceps, and he was pulled as a precautionary measure.

The Cubs said late Saturday night that Garza is day-to-day with those cramps, but it would be hard to imagine him missing his next scheduled start, regardless of which team it comes for. Garza underwent an X-ray after the game just to be safe, and that came up negative.

Garza gave up no runs on two hits through those three innings, striking out three batters but walking two.

For more on the Cardinals stick with SB Nation St. Louis or head over to Viva El Birdos. Cubs news and analysis is available at Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more news, notes and analysis from around the league, check out Baseball Nation.

Cubs Vs. Cardinals Recap: 12-Run 7th Leads To 12-0 Cubs Loss

The Chicago Cubs (38-55) could not keep their shutout going against the St. Louis Cardinals (49-45), letting the Cards take the lead in a big way.

SP Matt Garza left the game with a cramp in his right triceps, but the Cubs bullpen self-destructed in the 7th inning with the game tied 0-0. This is how the 7th inning went:

• single
• pop out
• double
• single
• triple
• double
• intentional walk
• pop out
• double
• double
• double
• walk
• double
• double
• strikeout, wild pitch, runner safe
• strikeout

All told, the Cubs allowed 12 runs -- the only runs of the game -- on 10 hits, 2 walks and 0 home runs. SP Jake Westbrook (W, 8-8) took the Cardinals' side of the shutout through the 7th inning, while recently acquired RP Justin Germano (L, 0-1) took the loss for the Cubs after allowing the first hit of the 7th before RP James Russell entered the game.

The Cubs offense, on the other side, mustered only 4 singles -- from their top four hitter -- and 3 walks.

For more on the Cardinals stick with SB Nation St. Louis or head over to Viva El Birdos. Cubs news and analysis is available at Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more news, notes and analysis from around the league, check out Baseball Nation.

Matt Garza Injury: Cubs Pitcher Removed Saturday Night With Arm Cramps

The Chicago Cubs got a scare on Saturday night when SP Matt Garza -- a major topic in the budding trade market -- left the game in the third inning due to an apparent injury. According to Doug Padilla of ESPN Chicago, however, the injury should be minor:

Garza was removed because of cramping in his right triceps. X-rays were negative.

— Doug Padilla (@ESPNChiCubs) July 22, 2012

Garza is rumored to be a trade target for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and a number of other teams in contention. He currently sports a 3.91 ERA and 4.14 FIP through 103 and 2/3 innings in the 2012 MLB season.

For more on the Cardinals stick with SB Nation St. Louis or head over to Viva El Birdos. Cubs news and analysis is available at Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more news, notes and analysis from around the league, check out Baseball Nation.

Cubs Vs. Cardinals Preview: Chicago Looks To Rebound On Saturday

The Chicago Cubs are trying to operate effectively under a dense cloud of trade rumors and chatter about the future, but they did drop game one of their weekend series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night. Now the Cubs have to look for a rebound effort from Matt Garza after Ryan Dempster picked up his fourth loss in the opener. The Cardinals will counter with Jake Westbrook, who boasts a 1-0 record and 3.75 ERA over 12.0 innings against the Cubs in 2012.

Here is the TV schedule and game time information for Saturday's game:

TV: WGN

Game Time: 6:15 p.m. CT

Location: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri

For more on the Cardinals stick with SB Nation St. Louis or head over to Viva El Birdos. Cubs news and analysis is available at Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more news, notes and analysis from around the league, check out Baseball Nation.

Cubs Vs. Cardinals Final Score: St. Louis Takes Game 1, 4-1

Chicago Cubs starter Ryan Dempster didn't get traded before his start on Friday night vs. the St. Louis Cardinals, but it might have been better if he had. Dempster gave up three earned runs in the first inning, a deficit the the Cubs wouldn't come close to coming back from.

Those first inning runs came on singles from Carlos Beltran and Yadier Molina and a groundout by the recently returned Lance Berkman. Cubs second baseman Darwin Barney hit a sacrifice fly in the second inning to bring the score to 3-1, but Matt Holliday took that back with a solo homer off Dempster in the third to extend the lead to 4-1.

Kyle Lohse stymied the Cubs over seven innings, giving up only six hits and the one earned run while striking out four and only walking one. Dempster would go six innings, allowing the four runs.

The two teams will be back on the field on Saturday at 6:15 p.m. CT.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more comprehensive coverage, visit Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more MLB coverage, check out Baseball Nation as well as MLB Daily Dish. Cardinals coverage is available at SB Nation St. Louis and Viva El Birdos.

Cubs Vs. Cardinals Lineups: Chicago Opens Weekend Series In St. Louis

Ryan Dempster is still a Chicago Cub and is set to start his team's game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night. The Cubs will be looking to continue their run as one of the hottest teams in baseball. Full lineups for Friday's game are listed below.

Chicago:

1. David DeJesus (L) CF
2. Starlin Castro (R) SS
3. Anthony Rizzo (L) 1B
4. Alfonso Soriano (R) LF
5. Bryan LaHair (L) RF
6. Steve Clevenger (L) C
7. Darwin Barney (R) 2B
8. Luis Valbuena (L) 3B
9. Ryan Dempster (R) P

Related: Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals Preview, Friday 7/20, 7:15 CT

St. Louis:

1. Skip Schumaker (L) 2B
2. Allen Craig (R) RF
3. Matt Holliday (R) LF
4. Carlos Beltran (S) CF
5. Yadier Molina (R) C
6. Lance Berkman (S) 1B
7. David Freese (R) 3B
8. Rafael Furcal (S) SS
9. Kyle Lohse (R) P

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more comprehensive coverage, visit Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more MLB coverage, check out Baseball Nation as well as MLB Daily Dish. Cardinals coverage is available at SB Nation St. Louis and Viva El Birdos.

Cubs Vs. Cardinals Preview: Will Ryan Dempster Be Traded Before His Friday Start?

Ryan Dempster is scheduled to start against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday, but the Chicago Cubs could deal him before game time.