Club taking it slow with Veras' rehab stint

ATLANTA -- Cubs manager Rick Renteria is unsure how many appearances reliever Jose Veras (left oblique strain) will make before concluding his rehab assignment with Double-A Tennessee that began Tuesday.

"I couldn't tell you how many I need to have him feel comfortable with," Renteria said. "It's more of how comfortable he starts to feel and then all us coming together and seeing where we're at."

Veras has made two appearances with the Smokies, pitching an inning each Tuesday and Thursday. He struck out a batter in each outing, earned a victory Thursday and has yet to allow a baserunner.

Veras was placed on the 15-day disabled list April 26 retroactive to April 25. Veras and the Cubs are hopeful his time away may help him mentally after he lost the closer role due to a 15.88 ERA and two blown saves in his first six games.

"I don't want to be in a position where I can't help the team win ballgames," Veras said April 26. "I want to help the team win ballgames. That's why they brought me here. Even though I'm struggling, it's just the start of the season, five or six outings, and I'm used to throwing 70 outings every year. Hopefully, I can come back, and when I come back, I can start over and healthy 100 percent."