Sveum says Wood should be Cubs’ all-star

Selections for Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game will be made Saturday.

The Cubs likely are to get one player named, and as far as manager Dale Sveum is concerned, it should be left-handed pitcher Travis Wood.

“He’s our all-star,” Sveum said before Friday’s 6-2 loss to the Pirates. “He’s been the most consistent. He hasn’t had a bad outing. Knock on wood. I don’t care who you are, it’s hard to go out there and whatever it’s been, 16-17 starts, and not have a hiccup along the way. He’s kept us in every ballgame and had a quality start in all but one and that was because of an unfortunate popup.”

Wood’s record is 5-6, but he has a solid ERA of 2.69 and a microscopic WHIP of 0.98. He got no run support in Thursday’s series finale at Oakland. The Cubs fell 1-0 — and Wood pitched 6 scoreless innings.

Wood leads the major leagues with 16 quality starts out of 17 total starts.

Making progress:Center fielder David DeJesus has been taking swings off the tee as he recovers from a right-shoulder sprain, suffered last month in New York. He took 50 swings in the outfield batting cages at Wrigley Field. The Cubs have been talking of a return of around the all-star break. #147;I#146;m not sure on a timetable,#148; said Dale Sveum. #147;At least now, he#146;s swinging off a tee. He#146;s able to do some things, free up his arm. He#146;s able to raise his arm over his head. There are a lot of things going good. It#146;s still a progression. But there#146;s no timetable at all.#148;Ouch, that really hurts:Catcher Dioner Navarro went down in a heap during the eighth inning. While behind the plate and with the Pirates#146; Andrew McCutchen up, he made as if to throw to third base to nab baserunner Starling Marte. But Navarro suffered a double whammy that resulted in his right arm being iced after the game. #147;I came up to throw to third, and I hit the umpire in the mask with my hand, and I hit the bat with my elbow and kind of went numb,#148; he said. #147;It#146;s a little tender right now.#148;Navarro stayed in the game.