33 Carlos Villanueva, SP

The Cubs will move Carlos Villanueva back to the bullpen when Matt Garza returns to start Tuesday at Pittsburgh, the Daily Herald reports Saturday.

Villanueva did a decent job as a starter, going 1-3 with a 3.93 ERA over eight outings with 36 strikeouts over 52 2/3 innings.

Cubs pitcher Carlos Villanueva took his third loss on Tuesday night against the Rockies. He allowed seven runs on 12 hits over five innings of work in a 9-4 defeat. 

The right-hander gave up five runs over his first three frames before Colorado pushed across two more runs in the fifth. 

Villanueva (1-3) also struck out one with no walks. His ERA rose to 3.93. 

With Matt Garza pitching at Triple-A Iowa and seemingly nearing a return from the disabled list, the Cubs have decisions to make in the rotation. According to the Chicago Tribune, Edwin Jackson, Travis Wood and Jeff Samardzija are not at risk of being sent to the bullpen upon Garza's return.

That leaves Scott Feldman and Carlos Villanueva as the two candidates for demotion when Garza re-joins the rotation. Both pitchers have been among the team's best, with Villanueva sporting a 3.02 ERA and Feldman down at 2.70.

At this point, it is not clear how many more minor-league rehab starts Garza is expected to throw.  

"Like I said, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it," Cubs manager Dale Sveum told the Tribune. "It's a nice problem to have, but it's getting closer to that date and it's not a cut-and-dried situation." 

Cubs pitcher Carlos Villanueva turned in his fifth quality start on Wednesday afternoon against the Cardinals. He allowed three runs on seven hits over 6 2/3 innings of work.

Villanueva gave up a run in the first for the only damage over his first three frames. St. Louis would push across a run in the fourth and fifth before the right-hander cruised. He was done after throwing 101 pitches, 56 for strikes, and left in line for the win but the bullpen was unable to hold the lead.

The 29-year-old also walked three and struck out two in the no-decision.

His next start is scheduled for Tuesday against the Rockies.