Randy Wells To Be Activated Saturday By Cubs

Cubs righthander Randy Wells has been on the disabled list since April 6 with a right forearm strain; he has made only one start this season, on April 4 against the Diamondbacks, in which he gave up just one run in six innings, before suffering this injury.

He recently completed a rehab assignment in which he made two starts, one for Single-A Peoria and one for Triple-A Iowa; he gave up quite a few hits (12 in 7.2 innings) along with three walks, but the Cubs apparently deem that to be enough to return him to the team's starting rotation, which is now down to only two members (Carlos Zambrano and Ryan Dempster) who began the year in it.

According to ESPN Chicago, Wells will be activated and start Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field against the Pittsburgh Pirates; righthander Casey Coleman, who pitched to one batter in relief in Friday's 4-2 Cubs loss, will return to Triple-A, presumably to the rotation there.

Randy Wells To Begin Rehab Assignment As Return To Cubs Draws Near

Cubs starter Randy Wells came out of his first start of the season with a right forearm strain. Where that can sometimes be a cause for real concern, further examination showed that the injury was strictly muscular in nature, and after resting for a little while, Wells began a throwing program with the goal of returning to the Cubs near the end of May.

Wells remains on track. According to Patrick Mooney, Wells is set to begin a minor league rehab assignment on Tuesday. The team will probably want to see him start two or three times in the minors before he comes up, but it's clear that Wells' return is not too far off, assuming he doesn't experience any setbacks.

That's excellent news for a 16-20 Cubs team that has struggled at the back of its rotation ever since Wells and fellow starter Andrew Cashner hit the DL early on. Replacements Casey Coleman and James Russell have allowed 41 runs over 43 innings in ten starts. Wells, meanwhile, owns a career 3.61 ERA. Things are going to get better. Maybe not better enough, but better nevertheless.

Big, Ugly Numbers For Three-Fifths Of Cubs' Rotation

Randy Wells Lands On DL As Cubs Lose Two Starters

Wednesday morning has been a rough morning for the Chicago Cubs. Not only did they have to place starting pitcher Andrew Cashner on the disabled list; they've also gone and done the same with starting pitcher Randy Wells.

Wells went six innings in a start against the Diamondbacks on Monday, but came up with a strained right forearm that's forcing him to the sidelines. General manager Jim Hendry says that Wells' injury is strictly muscular and doesn't involve the elbow, which is good news, but even so Wells is going to be shut down for ten days to two weeks before the team reevaluates the situation. Surgery, obviously, is not being considered.

While Casey Coleman is slotted to take Cashner's place, Wells' place is proving more difficult, particularly with the recent release of Carlos Silva. The team hasn't decided who's going to take his spot, although lefty reliever James Russell is a possibility. The Cubs are going to have to scrape by until their luck turns, which, this being the Cubs, may not ever happen ever. Stay tuned!