36 Edwin Jackson, SP

Cubs starting pitcher Edwin Jackson was sharper than he has been all season Friday against the Mets, but it was still not enough to earn his second win as the Cubs fell, 3-2.

Jackson allowed a pair of solo home runs in the first and fourth inning, but that was all of the damage until the seventh, when he was chased with two outs after opposing starter Matt Harvey drove a single to left field to break a 2-2 tie. Jackson would earn the loss in the game as a result.

Jackson allowed three earned runs on seven hits and a walk, while striking out four batters. Despite throwing just his third quality start of the season, Jackson is now 1-6 on the season, with a 5.76 ERA. He will try to get back on the winning side in his next start, Thursday in Pittsburgh.

Cubs starting pitcher Edwin Jackson was finally able to get into the win column Saturday against the Nationals. Jackson, who made his eighth start, allowed two runs on four hits over 5 1/3 innings in an 8-2 win.

The right-hander retired 12 of the first 13 batters he faced and even helped his cause at the plate as he ripped a two-run double off Stephen Strasburg in the fifth inning. He was pulled after throwing 88 pitches and finished with three strikeouts and two walks.

"It was definitely nice to get that monkey off my back. ... It felt about the same size as me," Jackson said.

Jackson will look to earn another win when he faces the Mets at home next Friday. The right-hander is 0-3 with a 9.00 ERA in four starts at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs can not be pleased with starter Edwin Jackson, who is 0-5 with a 6.39 ERA since joining the team on a four-year, $52 million contract. Even so, the team has no plans of putting him in the bullpen when Matt Garza is ready to return to the rotation in the next few weeks.

"Nah," manager Dale Sveum told the Chicago Tribune. "Obviously we're going to have to make some decisions, but I don't think he's going to be one of them that goes to the bullpen."

The team is not considering utilizing a six-man rotation, but it appears as if Jackson's spot is safe despite his poor performance. 

Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer told ESPN.com Monday that he is not worried about starter Edwin Jackson.

Jackson, who signed a four-year, $52 million contract in the offseason, is 0-5 with a 6.39 ERA through seven starts.

"Not concerned at all," Hoyer said. "He has a really long track record of success. Frankly, his consistency has been one of his biggest strengths over the course of his career. So not concerned, but at the same time he does need to pitch better and start helping his team and he knows that."

With Matt Garza expected to return to the rotation in the near future, Hoyer was asked if Jackson could be moved to the bullpen.

"I don't even let myself think about having extra starters so there is no point in talking about it," Hoyer said. "We had these discussions in spring training when we had seven starters and it looked like (Travis) Wood and (Carlos) Villanueva would be in the bullpen, so there's not really any point in talking about a hypothetical. It always seems to take care of itself and we're a ways away from having to deal with that kind of issue."

Cubs pitcher Edwin Jackson endured another rough outing as he lost his fifth start of the season Sunday afternoon against the Reds.

Jackson (0-5), who made his seventh start of the season, allowed four runs and eight hits in five innings of work. He struck out five and walked one in 86 pitches, 51 strikes. He has yet to pitch past the sixth inning this season.

Jackson has a 6.39 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP. He is scheduled to start Saturday at Washington. He went 6-6 with a 3.35 ERA in his last 15 starts at Nationals Park as a member of his former club.