Cubs go to six-man rotation to give Baker a look

CINCINNATI -- The Cubs plan to get two more looks at right-hander Scott Baker this season, as manager Dale Sveum said on Tuesday that he will go with a six-man rotation for the next two turns. That cycle began on Monday with Travis Wood's win over the Reds, setting up Baker's next start for Saturday in Pittsburgh.

"Nothing changes, really," Sveum said. "Everybody will get their same amount of starts, everybody will just get a little bit extra rest."

Baker made a successful return to the Majors on Sunday, more than two years removed from his last big league start. He underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2012 and is under contract with the Cubs through the end of this season. With that, the next two starts will help give the club a better idea of what they want to do with the soon-to-be-32-year-old in the offseason.

After Baker makes his third and final scheduled start this season on Sept. 20 against the Braves, the Cubs will go back to their regular five-man rotation. As it currently stands, Wood, Edwin Jackson and Jeff Samardzija will start the last three games of the season in St. Louis.

"It actually works out pretty well, really," Sveum said of having two of his top three starters slated for the season's final series.