Garza said his goal is to get back on the mound this season, despite there being no official timetable on his return.
"I'm hoping," Garza said. "That's why I'm working my tail off. Doing everything I can."
Garza hasn't pitched since he left his July 21 outing after three innings because of cramping in his right triceps. He threw a bullpen session Saturday in Los Angeles, but his arm was stiff Sunday and he returned to Chicago to be examined. The results were discovered Monday.
The 28-year-old right-hander said he was surprised at the diagnosis of the injury, which he originally thought was just a sore muscle.
"I was throwing through this thing. I thought it was just another slow bump, I'd be fine and keep going," Garza said. "But the doctor said that we've got to shut it down, and you've got to listen to the doc."
Garza won't be allowed to pick up a baseball for the next two weeks. — Cubs.com
Let's say Matt Garza picks up a baseball on August 23rd. He'll be throwing off flat ground for awhile as he builds some arm strength. He might be throwing off a mound by August 30th. At least a couple of bullpens and we're talking September 10th at the earliest. My guess is that it wouldn't be before the September 15th game vs. the Pirates.
Even if he returned then, he'd probably be on a 60 to 70 pitch limit. It's possible he could get 4 starts (15th, 20th, 26th, 31st). It just seems unlikely to me the Cubs are going to let him get to the point where he's capable of throwing 100+ pitches considering the timing of the injury and the fact the Cubs are way out of contention.