Garza scheduled to pitch for Cougars Friday
Cubs pitcher Matt Garza will make his first rehab start Friday for the Kane County Cougars.
The Cougars host the Quad City River Bandits at 6:30 p.m. at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark in Geneva. Tickets are available by calling (630) 232-8811 or at kccougars.com.
Garza is on the mend from a left lat muscle injury, suffered early in spring training. He likely will pitch only 2 innings as he builds up pitching stamina.
It won't be the first time Garza has pitched in the Midwest League. A portion of Garza's first professional season in 2005 took place in the Midwest League when he pitched for Beloit, a Minnesota Twins affiliate at the time.
Garza was placed on the disabled list during spring training with a left lat strain and has yet to appear in a major league game this season.
The right-hander has spent three seasons with the Cubs and has won 57 games during his major league career, which began in 2006 when Garza made the jump from Class A to the major leagues with Minnesota.
In 2010, Garza threw the first no-hitter in Tampa Bay Rays history and won 15 games that season. Garza went 5-7 for the Cubs last year after going 10-10 in 2011.
The Cougars are 4-7 in their first year as a Cubs affiliate after splitting a doubleheader Tuesday night at Beloit.