Levine: Lackey Backed Up Until Next Week

By Bruce Levine

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The good news for the Chicago Cubs and right-hander John Lackey is he won't be going on the disabled list.

Lackey injured his throwing shoulder in the seventh inning Sunday evening and had to leave the game in the middle of an at-bat. After getting treatment from the team's medical staff, Lackey said he felt improvement each day, according to manager Joe Maddon.

Lackey was supposed to start Saturday at Colorado but instead has been pushed back to next Tuesday at San Diego. In his place Saturday, left-handed reliever Mike Montgomery will start. He'll be backed up in the outing by right-hander Trevor Cahill in a reverse of Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader win.

"We are going to give Johnny a couple of extra days," Maddon said. "He said he was feeling better. We just thought it would be good to extend that time before he has to pitch again. Also slow it down and see what Mike (Montgomery) can do.

"I think he can be a very legitimate big league starting pitcher. You saw what (Trevor) Cahill did also. This is the part of the group we have been trying to get thicker (the rotation). All of a sudden, these two guys have surfaced. We are going ahead and start Mike."

The new rotation order has Jake Arrieta going Thursday in the finale against Milwaukee, then Kyle Hendricks, Montgomery and Jason Hammel following at Colorado.

Jon Lester will pitch on Monday in San Diego and then Lackey will go on eight days of rest next Tuesday.

The 37-year-old Lackey could use a bit of time off regardless of the minor injury. He's fourth in the National league in innings pitched with 158 1/3.

"Any time a pitcher has a shoulder injury, you try to treat it as carefully as possible," general manager Jed Hoyer said. "He has obviously been an incredibly durable pitcher throughout the course of his career. You don't want to take that for granted. We will evaluate that every day. We hope he pitches Tuesday. If not, it can become a DL situation because of the amount of days."

Lackey is 9-7 with a 3.41 ERA. He signed a two-year, $32-million contract last offseason with the team.

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.