Cubs' Garza sick, may not pitch Sunday

The injury bug hasn't bitten the Cubs of late, but an illness bug certainly has.

Pitcher Matt Garza remained away from the club with a nasty virus that manager Dale Sveum said started last week with since-demoted reliever Scott Maine.

The illness also has sickened infielder Jeff Baker, who also was away from the club.

As a result, Garza will not start today's series finale with the Dodgers; he originally was slated to start Saturday. The Cubs will recall left-hander Travis Wood from Class AAA Iowa to start. Garza will be held back until Friday's series opener at Milwaukee.

Before Saturday's 5-1 loss, Sveum held out hope, but not much, that Garza could go today.

"I would say that's a pretty good way to put it: iffy, probably right on the iffy line," Sveum said. "I don't think it's long term. He's pretty down and out. He's pretty sick."

The Cubs will have to make a corresponding roster move when they call up Wood.

"It's unfortunate that he's not feeling well," said Wood, who came to Wrigley Field a day early, just in case. "Apparently, there's something going around here. Hopefully, I can step in, give them a strong outing and give them chance to win."

At Iowa, Wood was 1-3 with a 5.08 ERA and a WHIP (walks plus hits per 1 inning pitched) of 1.52. In 28 innings pitched, he had given up 35 hits while walking eight and striking out 30.

"I felt good," said Wood, who had hoped to make the Cubs' rotation out of spring training. "The ball was coming out well. The pitches were working well. We'll see."

Getting some work:

Erstwhile closer Carlos Marmol got in 1 inning of work in the eighth with the Cubs down 5-0. He walked the first batter he faced, Andre Ethier, but retired the next three on a groundout, popup and strikeout.

Marmol also threw more fastballs. Dale Sveum had said Marmol relied too much on his slider during Thursday's ninth-inning implosion at Cincinnati.

"He threw his fastball, threw it for strikes," Sveum said. "I think that was encouraging for him, to see that he can throw his fastball a lot."

On Friday, Sveum announced Marmol was out as closer and that right-hander Rafael Dolis and lefty James Russell would share duties. Dolis earned a save in Friday's 5-4 victory.

Little-used Lendy Castillo worked 2 scoreless innings Saturday. He had not pitched since April 20. Castillo is a Rule 5 pick from the Phillies. Before this season, he had not pitched above Class A ball.

This and that:

First baseman Bryan LaHair had his 10-game hitting streak snapped, as he was 0-for-2 with 2 walks. He has reached base in 23 straight games. ... Third baseman Ian Stewart (.196) went 2-for-4, recording his fifth multihit game of the season. ... The Cubs have no hits and no RBI in their last 11 at-bats with the bases loaded.