SB Nation Chicago - Cubs Vs. Dodgers: LA Hosts Weekend Series Against Chicago

Matt Garza Injury: Cubs RHP Headed To The Disabled List With Elbow Stiffness

2012-08-06T01:24:04Z

Cubs starter Matt Garza will be placed on the disabled list because of elbow stiffness and will not start for the team on Tuesday. Garza was sent back to Chicago on Sunday to see a doctor. The Cubs, meanwhile, are off to San Diego to continue their west coast swing.

Garza is headed to the DL (backdated 16 days) because of elbow stiffness. Return pushed back; Coleman or Rusin to start Tuesday in SD.
— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) August 6, 2012

Garza DL move is more about paperwork/roster spot. Sent home for exam as ``precautionary'' move, Sveum says.
— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) August 6, 2012

Garza is 5-7 with a 3.91 ERA in 2012.

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Cubs Vs. Dodgers Final Score: LA Defeats Chicago, 7-6

2012-08-06T00:02:55Z

The Cubs gave the Dodgers all they could handle on Sunday but still couldn't quite come away with the victory, as Los Angeles defeated Chicago 7-6 in the series finale.

Anthony Rizzo plated half of the Cubs' runs in this one, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Rizzo had an RBI single in the first inning for the first score of the game. Then he hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh to kick off the scoring in Chicago's most productive inning. Rizzo's ninth inning solo home run gave the Cubs a chance at a comeback, but it wasn't enough.

There were four blown saves - a pair of relief pitchers from each team. Starter Justin Germano gave up two earned runs on three hits in 5 1/3 innings pitched.

For the Dodgers, Kenley Jansen picked up a blown save and the win for giving up the homer to Rizzo that tied the game before being bailed out by Hanley Ramirez's walk-off RBI single.

Jeff Baker Trade: Cubs Send Infielder To Detroit Tigers For 2 PTBNL

2012-08-05T18:12:34Z

The Chicago Cubs announced on Sunday afternoon that infielder Jeff Baker has been traded to the Detroit Tigers for two players to be named later. This came on the heels of the Cubs making a couple of other roster transactions that included calling up third baseman Josh Vitters and outfielder Brett Jackson.

Baker has been a versatile player for the Cubs since joining the team in 2009, having played first, second and third base and the outfield. This season, Baker is hitting .269/.306/.448 with four home runs and 20 RBI in 54 games. In his four-year career with the Cubs, Baker's triple-slash line is .280/.326/.421 with 15 home runs and 85 RBI over 283 games.

On July 2, 2009, the Cubs traded Al Alburquerque to the Colorado Rockies for Jeff Baker. Alburquerque never made it with the Rockies, but he reached the majors in 2011 with the Tigers. However, injury has prevented him from playing yet this season.

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Cubs Vs. Dodgers Preview: Cubs Look To Avoid Sweep On Sunday

2012-08-05T14:38:21Z

The Chicago Cubs will be trying to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday, but from Chicago's standpoint, the game will be as much about evaluating starting pitcher Justin Germano. Germano will take the start for the Cubs for the second time this season as Chicago awaits Matt Garza's return, and another solid start by Germano could solidify his position in the organization heading into next season.

In his lone start this season, Germano allowed two runs on four hits in five innings to the Pittsburgh Pirates, but the revamped Dodgers lineup will be a bit more of a test. The Cubs will face ex-Phillie Joe Blanton, who will be making his first start in Dodger blue. Blanton has a 4.59 ERA on the season, but has posted five quality starts in his last six outings.

Game date/time: Sunday, August 5, 3:10 p.m. CT

Location: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, Calif.

TV: WGN

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Cubs Rumors: Chicago Considering Addition Of RHP Derek Lowe

2012-08-04T18:35:55Z

According to the Sun-Times' Gordon Wittenmyer, the Chicago Cubs are thinking about a move to acquire Derek Lowe, who has been designated for assignment by the Cleveland Indians.

Facing post-trade-deadline depth issues, the Cubs are looking into what it would take to acquire former Derek Lowe [sic], who was designated for assignment by the Cleveland Indians this week.

The Cubs dealt starters Ryan Dempster and Paul Maholm prior to the 2012 trade deadline.

Lowe was 8-10 with a 5.52 ERA for the Indians in 2012. He struck out 41 and walked 45 in 119 innings of work. The 16-year MLB veteran has a career 4.01 ERA.

Cubs Vs. Dodgers: Chicago Tries To Correct Road Woes Again On Saturday

2012-08-04T16:11:34Z

The Chicago Cubs can't seem to catch a break in games away from Wrigley Field during the 2012 season, but they have to get back at it and try again after dropping the series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night. The Cubs have managed to accumulate the second-worst differential between their home record (27-24) and road record (16-37) in the league, and so far things haven't changed much in August.

On Saturday the Cubs turn to struggling righty Chris Volstad (0-7, 7.94 ERA), while the Dodgers will counter with staff ace Clayton Kershaw (8-6, 2.95 ERA).

Game date/time: Saturday, August 4, 8:10 p.m. CT

Location: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California

TV: CSN-Chicago

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Cubs Vs. Dodgers Recap: Chicago Suffers 6-1 Loss On Friday Night

2012-08-04T13:17:15Z

On Friday night, the Chicago Cubs dropped the opener of their series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, 6-1. Chicago starter Jeff Samardzija cruised through his first four innings of work, but as he moved into the fifth and sixth innings everything fell apart. A parade of hits from the Dodgers during that span -- marked by an RBI double from James Loney in the fifth and a two-RBI single from Hanley Ramirez in the sixth inning -- opened up the game and the Cubs never recovered.

Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley tossed 7.0 innings and allowed just four hits and one earned run, which set the tone for the bullpen as Cubs hitters managed only those four hits for the entire evening. If you are curious how Chicago has managed to accumulate the second-worst differential between their home record (27-24) and road record (16-37) in the league, Al Yellon of Bleed Cubbie Blue offered a bit on how the typical blueprint for road losses worked its way into Friday's contest:

Stop me if you've heard this one before...

Cubs starting pitcher begins well, holds the opposition to one run early, and the Cubs stay in the game, eventually tying the score. Right then, Cubs starting pitcher gives up runs, not quite enough to make you think it's over, but then gives up more runs, putting the game essentially out of reach.

I could stop here, right? How many times this year have the Cubs played a game much like the 6-1 loss to the Dodgers Friday night? How many more rhetorical questions can I ask? Don't answer that.

It's really inexplicable. Jeff Samardzija threw a decent game, just not decent enough; he didn't walk anyone, which is a step in the right direction, but gave up eight hits and five runs and had to be lifted in the sixth.

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Cubs Vs. Dodgers: Chris Volstad Takes Losing Streak To Los Angeles On Saturday

2012-08-04T02:04:09Z

Cubs manager Dale Sveum expects to give Chris Volstad an extensive look at starting pitcher for the rest of the season. This is the same Volstad with an 0-7 record and 7.94 ERA as a Cub. Volstad is also 0-12 with a 5.68 ERA over his last 20 starts with the Cubs and Marlins

Despite note recording a win since July 2011 (against the Astros, at that), Volstad has an opportunity to turn things around, while facing Dodgers' ace Clayton Kershaw.

Here's what Sveum had to say on whether or not the losing streak is in Volstad's head at this point, via Chicago Tribune:

"It's not not in his head," Sveum replied. "Any human being would be out there (thinking) 'Golly, I have to do this,'" Sveum said. ''Unfortunately, you start thinking 'Man, I can't blow this right now. I have the lead and I want this win ...' So instead of just pitching, you're worrying about another entity in your head.

"I think it's only natural that it's there."