Cubs’ Samardzija looks to get off to quick start
It won’t be his first major-league start, but Easter Sunday certainly figures to be a big day for Cubs pitcher Jeff Samardzija.
The 27-year-old Samardzija had a breakthrough season out of the bullpen last year, and he defied the odds this year by winning the No. 3 starting job in spring training.
He will take on the Washington Nationals in the series finale at Wrigley Field.
“Yes and no,” he said about the game being a big deal. “As a whole, it’s not. Obviously, we’re looking at this as a whole season. We want to do what we can to prepare for the whole season. It’s definitely important to get off on the right foot, I will say that.
“I preached all spring getting off to a quick start as a team, so I can’t say that it’s not the same for myself. It’s important to go out there and do what you’ve got to do to set the tone for the season.”
In 75 games out of the bullpen last year, Samardzija was 8-4 with a 2.97 ERA. He has made 5 major-league starts. He also says he’s looking forward to hitting. As a batter, he has 1 home run.
“I can’t wait,” he said. “As a pitcher, you love when that wind is blowing in. When you’re in the box, you wouldn’t mind if it turned around a little bit.”
Lopez is back:
The Cubs on Saturday selected the contract of right-hander Rodrigo Lopez from Class AAA Iowa and outrighted infielder Luis Valbuena to Iowa.
They had just recently claimed Valbuena off waivers from Toronto, and he was on the opening-day roster.
The move brings the Cubs’ pitching staff back to 12 members. Lopez was a fill-in starter for the Cubs last year, going 6-6 with a 4.42 ERA. The team brought him to spring training as a nonroster man. He will join the bullpen.
“With the way he used his slider this spring, I think he’s feeling his slider back,” manager Dale Sveum said. “The flexibility is great because he can go long. If they stack three right-handers up in an inning, you can bring him in and get the right-handers out.
“He’s a veteran guy that knows how to pitch. But I think with his slider being back to where he wants it to be, he becomes a lot more versatile throughout a whole lineup and throughout a game when you can use him.”
Streaking Castro:
Shortstop Starlin Castro was 2-for-5 with 2 stolen bases. With his first-inning single, he reached base safely in his 42nd consecutive game, dating to last Aug. 15.
Riggs Stephenson reached base for the Cubs in 44 straight games in 1928. Jerome Walton did so in 43 in 1989. Gabby Hartnett had a 42-game streak in 1937.
LaHair returns:
First baseman Bryan LaHair popped out as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning. He missed Opening Day with back pain, but he may be able to make his first start of the season Sunday.
Bad footing:
Starting pitcher Matt Garza had trouble keeping his footing after the ball was hit. He either slipped on the grass or simply fell.
“He didn’t hurt anything, but he did take a couple pretty good spills,” Dale Sveum said. “I told him to get football spikes on.”