Matt Garza injury: Cubs RHP back on a throwing schedule

Now two days removed from being scratched from his simulated start because of "dead arm," Chicago Cubs right-hander Matt Garza's is feeling much better. The right-hander is scheduled to play long toss and throw a bullpen session sometime Friday or Saturday, then -- if all goes well -- could make a start at Double-A next week, per Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune.

The 29-year-old hasn't thrown a pitch in a real game, minor-league or otherwise, since July 21 of last year, when he went down with a stress reaction in his elbow. Healthy at the start of spring camp, Garza proceeded to strain a muscle in his left side during his first throwing session and has been on the road to recovery ever since.

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Garza was originally set to make three rehab starts following the initial simulated one on Wednesday before returning to the Cubs' rotation, but it's unclear whether a trio of starts is still the plan. If we assume that it is, and say that he will make his first rehab appearance on Wednesday, then the right-hander is looking at making his season debut in mid-May.

While that's much later than the club initially hoped to have him back -- i.e. Opening Day -- it should still be plenty of time to drum up his trade value before the July deadline.

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