Sveum confident Garza making next start for Cubs

DENVER -- On Friday it looked like Matt Garza would be pitching in a new uniform by the time his next scheduled start rolled around.

But the once-turbulent trade waters have calmed, and Cubs manager Dale Sveum said he remains confident that Garza will be on the mound for Chicago on Monday for the series opener against the D-backs.

"I'd say 100 percent he's going to be pitching tomorrow," Sveum said.

Sveum said Saturday that Chris Rusin and Brooks Raley are the early leaders to take over if Garza leaves the rotation, but he still has no established plan for a last-minute trade. Rusin would appear the more likely option because Raley just threw 4 2/3 innings for Triple-A Iowa on Friday.

The Cubs skipper once again emphasized that the decision on whether Garza stays in Chicago beyond the July 31 Trade Deadline is out of his hands, and Sveum will address the issue if and when it materializes.

Sveum did say he likely would not resort to relying on the bullpen since the Cubs do not have an off-day for more than two weeks. He would also try to avoid bumping up All-Star Travis Wood's Tuesday start.

"There's going to be something in place," Sveum said. "It's not just going to be a wing-it type thing. Whatever they got going on, if there is anything going on, there's going to be a contingency plan, but we're not going to bullpen it.

"If anything's that close, I would imagine there would be [an extra pitcher with the team]," he said. "But as of right now, there's nobody on its way."

Sveum also is trying to keep his head out of the rumor mill despite the endless trade talk and questions surrounding Garza.

"All I know is he's pitching tomorrow, and I guess if we get a phone call and something changes, that's the way it is," Sveum said. "But it's not something that consumes me, I don't live my life that way."