PEORIA, Ariz. -- Chicago Cubs pitcher Scott Baker will have an MRI on his surgically repaired right elbow while third baseman Ian Stewart will undergo an MRI on a lingering left quad problem, manager Dale Sveum announced on Monday.
Baker, signed as a free agent from the Minnesota Twins after missing all of last season due to Tommy John surgery, threw in a spring training game on Sunday for the first time but didn't make it out of the first inning.
"He felt good, then he came in today kind of sore in the elbow so we're going to do an MRI today, just to make sure and everything," Sveum said. "We'll find out more tomorrow."
After he gave up three runs on three hits and two walks to the Oakland Athletics, Baker said he knew his body well enough that he thought he would be alright come Monday.
"I feel good enough to know I'll feel alright tomorrow," he said. "At the same time, you never know."
Stewart, meanwhile, was hurt in the first intra-squad game of spring training back in February. He played in a minor league game last week but felt too sore to try again. Sveum wouldn't characterize it as a setback for Stewart.
"It's definitely stalled," Sveum said. "We have a small window for him to be ready, but obviously that window is getting ready to shut [as far as being ready] for Opening Day."
Stewart signed a one-year, $2 million non-guaranteed contract in the offseason after missing most of last year due to wrist surgery. He can be cut before Opening Day for a termination fee but more than likely he'll start the year on the disabled list. Luis Valbuena is penciled in as the starter on Opening Day. Infielders Edwin Maysonet and Alberto Gonzalez have a chance at making the team if Stewart can't play right away.
Ailing pitcher Matt Garza "played long toss" on Sunday and will again on Tuesday as he recovers from a lat injury suffered early in spring training.
"We went to 75 feet yesterday for the second day," Garza said of throwing on Sunday. "Twenty throws, no pain. I'm trying to speed it up but they have me on a real set pace right now."
Sveum sounded even more optimistic.
"He's doing great," he said. "We're finally over the hurdle -- knock on wood -- the smallest hurdles of throwing and coming in and feeling great and not feeling any little thing. Now it's the stage of getting on the mound."
Sveum is still hopeful Garza will miss only a month of the season -- at most.
"I would say he should be ready within five days of May," Sveum stated.
Before the game against the Padres on Sunday the Cubs made official roster cuts they had announced over the weekend.
Infielders Junior Lake and Josh Vitters have been optioned to Triple-A Iowa, while infielder Christian Villanueva has been optioned to Double-A Tennessee. Outfielder Jorge Soler has been optioned to Single-A Daytona. Three non-roster invitees have been assigned to minor league camp including right-handed pitcher Barret Loux, infielder Javier Baez and catcher Rafael Lopez.