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Wada's status for next start still undetermined

CHICAGO -- Tsuyoshi Wada, who came out of his start Monday after two-plus innings because of soreness in his left shoulder, did play catch on Wednesday, but Cubs manager Joe Maddon said the club was still uncertain as to whether Wada will make his next start Saturday.

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"There's still some soreness," Maddon said Wednesday of Wada. "We're not prepared yet to say yes or no on the next start. We're going to wait a little while longer to evaluate all that. It's better, from what I was told, but we want to be very certain about that."

Among the Cubs' options for Saturday's game against the Cardinals are Edwin Jackson and Travis Wood, who are currently in the bullpen. Maddon said they also are looking at the Triple-A Iowa roster.

"There are a couple different directions we can go," Maddon said.

The starters at Iowa include right-hander Donn Roach (7-1, 2.29 ERA) and Carlos Pimentel (5-4, 3.45 ERA), although neither is on the Cubs' 40-man roster.

Dexter Fowler, who sprained his left ankle Monday, did not start Wednesday for the second straight day but was available to pinch-hit, as he did in Tuesday's win.

"We're going to take it day by day," Fowler said. "I've sprained my ankle before, and I'm going to go out there today [during batting practice] and run around and see how it feels."

• The Cubs have shut down Jacob Turner after two starts because of soreness in his right elbow. Turner last pitched on June 14 for Double-A Tennessee, giving up two hits over five scoreless innings.

Javier Baez was headed to the Cubs' complex in Mesa, Ariz., to resume his rehab. Baez has been sidelined since June 7 with a fractured middle finger on his left hand. He was batting .314 in 37 games at Triple-A Iowa before he was injured.

Zac Rosscup, on the disabled list with left shoulder inflammation since June 17, expected to go to Arizona on Friday and continue his rehab there.

• The Cubs entered play Wednesday leading the Majors in one-run games (30), and the most wins in one-run games, with 18. What's the key? Maddon said he remembers when the Orioles led the Majors in that category.

"At that time, it spoke to two things," Maddon said. "I thought they played hard all the time, a bunch of grinders, and I thought their bullpen was spectacular. I'll put ourselves in the category of being grinders. On the flip side, our bullpen the last month has been outstanding.

"I think at the end of the day, to win one-run games, I talk about present tense and focus and those kinds of things, that combined with players who just don't quit and a bullpen that can hold it down."

The Cubs' bullpen posted a 1.49 ERA and .196 opponents' batting average from May 23 to Tuesday's 10-inning win.

Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. She writes a blog, Muskat Ramblings, and you can follow her on Twitter @CarrieMuskat.
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