Flu-like bug causing havoc with Cubs lineup

The Cubs have been scuffling and scrambling to find healthy bodies all weekend. No, the injury bug didn't bite them again. This time, it was a flu-like bug, and it has left manager Dale Sveum short in several areas.

Over the weekend, the Cubs were forced to scratch right-hander Matt Garza from starts on Saturday and Sunday, pushing him back to the end of the week.

Infielder Jeff Baker missed two games with the same illness, which claimed third baseman Ian Stewart for the start of Sunday's 4-3 rain-delayed victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in 11 innings. Stewart had a ninth-inning pinch single, and he scored the game-tying run.

"Today, it's Stewart; he's down-and-out today," Sveum said. "It's just one of those unfortunate things that a lot of teams deal with during the course of the year. It happens to be going through us right now."

The Cubs brought left-handed pitcher Travis Wood up from Class AAA Iowa to start in place of Garza. Utility man Joe Mather, who started Saturday in center field, played third base Sunday.

Baker said he felt "awesome" despite looking pale and wan. In all the shuffling, the Cubs designated infielder Blake DeWitt for assignment to make room for Wood on the roster.