No rush for Cubs to take Dempster off DL
The Cubs' starting rotation will remain in flux until after the all-star break.
No. 1 starter Ryan Dempster played catch Friday and will see how his sore right lat muscle feels before throwing off a mound, either Saturday or Sunday.
Dempster, who has been on the disabled list since June 18 (retro to June 16), will not return to the rotation until after the break.
“It won't take me long once I get going,” Dempster said. “I haven't said, ‘This date' because if I feel good, it could be sooner than that. I'm completely pain free. I just don't know how I'm going to feel throwing.”
There is no reason for the Cubs to rush Dempster, who could be a prime trade target on or before the July 31 nonwaiver deadline.
“Everything's been on schedule as far as what we're trying to do,” said manager Dale Sveum. “The progress has been getting better each time he's throws the ball. Obviously, there's no timetable for anything yet. We'll still monitor it, and hopefully everything keeps going. The next step today is he's going to throw from 120 feet.
“The earliest, obviously, would be sometime right after the all-star break. We're still going to make sure everything's good and he's built up to whatever he can tolerate. Nothing earlier than that.”
The Cubs will need a starter for Tuesday night's game in Atlanta. Sveum said the candidates look to be Casey Coleman from out of the bullpen or Chris Volstad from Class AAA Iowa.
Volstad, who opened the season in the Cubs' rotation, had a quality start Thursday in Iowa's 3-1 loss to Oklahoma City. Volstad took the loss, but he worked 7 innings, giving up 6 hits and 3 runs (2 earned) while walking none and striking out seven.
Not left out: Bryan LaHair started in right field against right-hander Bud Norris on Friday and went 3-for-4 to break an 0-for-11 skid. The Astros will throw lefties J.A. Happ and Wandy Rodriguez at the Cubs over the weekend. LaHair has sat against many lefties this year. His hitting line against lefties is .086/.200/.171 with 1 homer. Against righties, he was at .320/.396/.604 with 12 homers. LaHair has been displaced by the call-up of Anthony Rizzo. #8220;I'm thinking about it,#8221; Dale Sveum said of giving LaHair a start this weekend. #8220;We just have to see some results. Unfortunately, the results are not real competitive. #8220;But you do also need to give him a chance once in awhile, especially against left-handers whose left-handed numbers aren't very good against, which is Happ. That's why I'm kind of thinking about it. Lefties hit .280 off him. We'll see what happens.#8221;Glad to have him:Luis Valbuena has been a welcome addition to the Cubs. They claimed him off waivers from Toronto just before the season started. He was on the opening-day roster but was sent down right after that. Since coming back June 14 and replacing the injured Ian Stewart at third base, Valbuena has 3 homers and has played well in the field. He may be there awhile. Stewart's injured left wrist is progressing slowly. #8220;He's a done a great job and got big hits,#8221; said Dale Sveum. #8220;When he gets his hits, they've all seemed to be big hits, to take the lead, to add on if we're up by 1. He's done a great job. I wish we'd have had him here earlier, maybe.#8221;BBN33973199Steve Clevenger rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Chicago, Friday, June 29, 2012. Associated PressBBN