2/28 Garza to throw

Matt Garza will play catch Thursday, which may not sound like much, but it is. The right-hander has not thrown since Feb. 17 because of a strained left lat.

“This is the first step to being ready to start pitching,” Garza said. “I’m not going to rush this thing.”

The Cubs felt Garza could be ready by Opening Day but he’s not going to push it.

“If I try to rush and be ready April 1, I might be re-injured in June, and be out,” he said. “If I take my time, maybe I’m pitching April 15 through October, maybe November.”

The good news is that his arm feels great. He missed the final 2 1/2 months of last season because of elbow problems.

“There’s no concern there — it’s just caution,” Garza said of his arm. “I’m just going to take my time and be easy with it and make sure it’s nice and free flowing. if there’s any snag, then speak up. This is a time where a guy like me, I love being out there. I’ve got to swallow my pride and put the team first.”

Garza, who said he felt like a caged animal during his offseason rehab, said he’s very eager to throw.

“It’s more anxiety — I feel left behind,” he said. “I’m not out there. That’s what sucks. Injuries happen, and if I speed it up, it could happen again. I’d rather take my time with it and chomp at the bit a little longer than having to chomp at the bit for six weeks than 10 to 12 days.”

He had six bullpen sessions before the live BP session that he cut short.

“It’s kind of like I took a two-week vacation,” he said of the time off. “I haven’t had one so maybe that’s why it happened.”

– Carrie Muskat