Pair Approach Return for Chicago

The Cubs are close to getting two players back off their disabled list, as outfielder Reed Johnson and utility man Jeff Baker are set to begin rehab assignments Thursday.

May was not a good month to be a Cub, especially an outfielder for the club.  The team lost 6 players, 3 outfielders, over a 20 day stretch to end the month.

A strained groin sent Baker to the DL, while Johnson has been dealing with a back injury.

Chicago will certainly welcome the return of an outfielder, as Marlon Byrd and Alfonso Soriano have joined Johnson on the DL.

In their place, the Cubs have used a combination of Tyler Colvin, Lou Montanez, Tony Campana and Blake DeWitt.

Dewitt and Montanez have been solid contributors, each batting over .300 on the year.  However, the same can’t be said for Campana (.235/.257/.265 over 17 games), and Colvin (.357 OPS) has been especially emphatic with his level of suck.

Chicago needs some kind of help.  After last night, the club has dropped 8 straight and 10 of its last 11.