Sveum: RHP Garza to start season on DL

Chicago Cubs right-hander Matt Garza will begin the season on the disabled list after feeling tightness in his side during rehab work in spring training.

Garza, once considered a long-shot candidate for the opening-day start, was coming back from a side injury after sitting out 10 days when he felt the tightness while throwing in camp, Cubs manager Dale Sveum said Sunday.

"It's a minor setback that (Garza) could wind up missing two weeks to a month," he said, according to the Chicago Tribune. "Now you're looking at him getting two (spring-training) starts at the most."

Garza will not resume any throwing for a least a week to rest his side.

"He's pretty down about it," Sveum said.

But Sveum downplayed the severity of the injury.

"It's not a setback. It didn't get worse," Sveum said. "He was not able to step up any intensity throwing"

Jeff Samardzija will be the Cubs' opening-day starter, Sveum announced.