Nomar Garciaparra is likely to be back in the starting lineup Wednesday after missing the last 10 games with a groin injury.
He will sit out Thursday’s day game after the night game and be back in the lineup on Friday in New York.
“Hopefully, knock on wood, he can play every game after that,” manager Dusty Baker said.
Garciaparra said his wrist injury has healed and his Achilles’ tendon injury is likely to remain for the rest of the year.
“I think it’s going to be an off-season that’s needed to take care of (the Achilles’ and groin problems), but the good thing is it’s coming along good and I’m looking forward to getting out there,” he said.
Neifi Perez has excelled in Garciaparra’s absence, just as Todd Walker did earlier this year replacing the injured Mark Grudzielanek and Todd Hollandsworth did replacing the injured Sammy Sosa.
“If Dusty says, ‘Hey, we want Neifi in there,’ I’m like, ‘Absolutely, I’ll go fill in whenever you need me,’ ” Garciaparra said. “It’s about winning the ballgames.”
But Baker likes Perez as a sub off the bench.
“That’s why you have capable reserves,” Baker said. “[Perez] was sharp when he got here. He knows how to keep himself sharp evidently, because he wasn’t playing very much when we got him.”
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W: Hawkins (5-4). L: Torres (7-6).
S: Dempster (2). HR: Ramirez (34).
Notable: Left-hander Glendon Rusch will replace Matt Clement in the rotation Friday in New York and also figures to start Sept. 29 against Cincinnati in Wrigley Field. If that’s the case, Clement will not get another start in the regular season after not missing a start in his three years in a Cubs uniform. “Right now it’s about who’s doing the best job as well as who has done the job in the past,” manager Dusty Baker said. “You can’t just shove a guy aside and [forget] completely about him. But at the same time, we’re getting close to the finish line.” … Cubs broadcaster Ron Santo was examined by his cardiologist and came out with a clean bill of health after his heart episode last weekend in Cincinnati, when he forgot to take the proper medication.
Home remaining: Cincinnati (4), Atlanta (3)
Away games remaining:
Pittsburgh (2), N.Y. Mets (3)
