Travis Wood's impressive performance wasted today as Cubs shut out by Giants; Preview of tomorrow's Draft Day

The Cubs were shut out 2-0 by the San Francisco Giants today, which was their 15th loss in their last 18 games played.

Travis Wood started for the Cubs and threw four hitless innings while facing the minimum 12 batters before Angel Pagan doubled with one out in the fifth inning.  Wood was impressive and threw seven strikeouts, which was one shy of his career high of eight strikeouts.  He allowed one run on three hits over seven innings pitched.  Today was Wood's best performance of the season, although it ended up being wasted with the weak Cubs offense.

Travis Wood had his best outing of the season as he allowed just one run and three hits over seven innings today (photo from espn.com)

"It's the same press conference every day," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said.  "It's a broken record.  I don't even know what to say to come up with something different.  It's just frustrating.  I mean, golly.  We hit a few balls good ..but other than that there weren't a lot of good at-bats."

On another note, tomorrow is draft day and the Cubs have the number 6, 43 and 56 picks.  Cubs' president of baseball operations Theo Epstein, scouting chief Jason McLeod and GM Jed Hoyer are the best in the business of drafting and developing talent, which some say makes this the biggest draft in Cubs history.

"We're looking for impact players, and you'll hear that from us a lot," said McLeod, who spent six seasons with Epstein with the Red Sox, five as scouting director, and held the same position the last two years with the Padres.  "We're trying to get impact players.  Pitching is always important if the pitcher is great, but we're not taking one position over another." 

Sveum said, "I think Theo, Jason and Jed, they've had a whole different system in the draft, and obviously it's worked pretty well."  Let's hope it continues to work well!

Live coverage of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft begins with a one-hour preview show on Monday at 5pm CT on MLB.com and MLB Network.  You can also keep up to date by following @MLBDraft on Twitter and using the  #mlbdraft hashtag.

In other Cubs news, Marcos Mateo, who has been on the disabled list since April 5th due toproblems with his right elbow, had a setback and underwent Tommy John surgery on Friday in Chicago.  He is expected to be out for the rest of the 2012 season.

Tomorrow the Cubs and Giants will play the last game of the four-game series at AT&T Park at 2:45pm CT.  Jeff Samardzija will start for the Cubs and try for his sixth win of the season.

Cubs lose 5-1 to the Padres; Mateo and Kerry Wood Updates; Happy Birthday to Starlin Castro

The Cubs lost 5-1 to the San Diego Padres at HoHoKam Park today.  Travis Wood was the starting pitcher and had a much better outing than last time, although he still gave up three runs and five hits and hit 2 by pitch and threw one strikeout over 3 2/3 innings pitched.  When asked regarding where he might start the season at, Wood said, "They're going to make their decisions, and whatever will be will be."

Cubs Outfielder Alfonso Soriano scored the Cubs' only run against the Padres on Saturday (photo from Chicago Tribune)

Randy Wells pitched 1.2 scoreless innings in relief and allowed one hit.  He is still in the competition for a spot in the starting rotation along with Chris Volstad (who pitched in a Minor League game today), Jeff Samardzija, and Rodrigo Lopez.  "There's obviously competition going on," Wells said. "If you start getting caught up in that, it makes it tougher to pitch. I just go out there and try to do my best."  Wells has not given up a run over 7 1/3 innings in three Cactus League games.  "I'd be disappointed," Wells said of his reaction if he isn't named a starter. "Three years in the rotation, to have to go to the bullpen -- but it could be a new challenge and something exciting."

Volstad, who has given up one run on seven hits over 10 innings in his three Cactus League outings said, "I've tried to be efficient, getting ground balls, and I feel I've put in the hard work. It's not like I can control the decision, but I feel pretty good where I'm at right now."  Cubs Manager Dale Sveum is expected to finalize the starting rotation on Wednesday.

Cubs reliever Marcos Mateo will be resting for at least ten days and then have his right elbow re-examined after he underwent an MRI after being pulled from Thursday’s game in Surprise.

Sveum mentioned that Kerry Wood has not pitched since last Sunday.  Sveum said that there are no issues and the right-hander will get a couple more outings before the end of spring training.

Today is Starlin Castro's 22nd birthday.  On Thursday, he presented some children who are battling cancer at Cardon Children’s Medical Center in Mesa with a visit and autographed Cubs hats.

Cubs Shortstop Starlin Castro visited children in a Mesa hospital on Thursday (photo from Carrie Muskat)

Rodrigo Lopez and the Cubs will take on the Cleveland Indians tomorrow at 3:05pm CST.  The game will be broadcast on WGN-TV and WGN-Radio.  Ryan Dempster will start in a Minor League game at Fitch Park..

Only 12 more days until Opening Day!

Cubs beat the Rangers, Ian Stewart with 1st HR of spring

The Cubs beat the Texas Rangers, 11-4 today.  Matt Garza made his final start of the Cactus League season.  Manager Dale Sveum confirmed he will announce Friday who the team's Opening Day starter will be (either Ryan Dempster or Garza). 

Garza pitched five innings today and gave up three runs, two hits, walked three, and struck out three.  Out of 81 pitches thrown, 48 were strikes.  Joe Mather was 3 for 3, with a home run, single, and double.  Alfonso Soriano also hit a two-run home run in the 5th inning.  Ian Stewart hit his first home run of the spring.  RHP Marcos Mateo was pulled in the 6th inning after throwing just two pitches.  His injury is unknown.

The Cubs optioned RHP Andy Sonnanstine to Triple-A Iowa today.  The Cubs roster currently stands at 47 players.

Cubs pitcher Andy Sonnanstine was optioned to Triple-A Iowa today (photo from US Presswire)

2 weeks until Opening Day!