MILWAUKEE -- Eager to escape the disabled list, Matt Garza has been taking batting practice with the rest of the Brewers pitchers since the weekend in Pittsburgh, and he hopes to add throwing back to his repertoire within a week.
"I'm doing throwing movements and strengthening stuff right now," said Garza, who is on the DL with a right "lat" strain suffered in his final Spring Training tuneup. "The way they put it is they're holding me back for [my sake]. The way I am, they want me to be patient with it and let it heal. Everything is going good."
Garza has yet to play catch since the Brewers placed him on the DL, but he has been cleared for plyometric exercises that simulate the throwing motion. The veteran righty was examined Wednesday by the team's head physician, Dr. William Raasch.
When he does resume throwing, Garza will essentially have to start Spring Training all over again. It will take him several weeks to build enough arm strength to get back into pitching form before the team assigns him to a Minor League affiliate for a rehabilitation assignment.
Zach Davies made his second start Friday in Garza's spot.
"No catch yet. Maybe a couple more days, a week," Garza said. "I'm hoping less, but we'll see. I want to be back as soon as possible.
"The worst thing was that it was right out of spring, just when we got all the way built up. Now we have to do it again. I'm hoping it doesn't take that long once we start to build arm strength back up by long-tossing. I'll have to make a couple of rehab [starts]. There's no other possible way to do it. I wish there was, but there isn't."