Roenicke: No worries about Garza

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Brewers manager Ron Roenicke assured the media Thursday that Matt Garza is healthy, and said the club isn't concerned about the right-hander's slow spring start.

In three Cactus League starts since signing a four-year $50 million contract, Garza is 0-2 with a 19.06 ERA. He surrendered 10 runs (six earned) on nine hits in 1 2/3 innings Wednesday against the Angels, the other team that bid for his services over the winter. The Brewers committed two errors behind him and generally played sloppily, but Garza conceded afterward that he was not sharp with his breaking balls.

"We have conversations with him all the time," Roenicke said. "'Kranny' [pitching coach Rick Kranitz] talked to him yesterday after the game; I talked to him a little bit today. It's ongoing, so it's not like you bring a guy in and say, 'What's going on?' Garza is an experienced guy; he's been through this a lot. He's been through some down times; he's been through the really good times. He's not concerned about it; I'm not concerned about it.

"Now, if we go into all six of his starts and we don't see anything getting better, then we say, 'What's going on?' I think as long as we talk all through this -- not just with him but all of the guys, even the guys that are going well, there's constant conversations -- I'm not that concerned about what happens early. I'd certainly like to see him throw a couple of good games before we start up. But who knows? He could go in and pitch the first game and be lights-out. We don't know."

Garza's next outing could be in Minor League camp, Roenicke said, as the Brewers align their starting pitchers for the regular season.