Cubs vs. Rockies Preview, Saturday 7/20, 7:10 CT: Going For Two, And More Garza Talk

Since MattGarzaMattGarzaMattGarzaMattGarza seems to be all anyone wants to talk about, here's a summary of what's going on today:

Apparently a trade for Matt Garza by the Rangers has been held up because the Cubs had some questions about one of the players they were getting in return. According to Major League sources the questions weren’t major but "fair" concerns.

The two sides are considering alternative ways to make the deal. Nothing is imminent. It could happen. It may not, according to sources.

THe Cubs could also trade him to another team.

So either he will get traded to the Rangers... or he won't. Or to some other team. Or not. Scintillating.

I've created a poll. Go vote. Then maybe watch the game, too.

Cubs lineup:

Valbuena 3B, Castro SS, Rizzo 1B, Soriano LF, Schierholtz RF, Lake CF, Barney 2B, Castillo C, Villanueva P

Looks like CF is Junior Lake's until DDJ gets back. Hope he makes the most of it.

Rockies lineup:

Fowler CF, LeMahieu 2B, Gonzalez LF, Tulowitzki SS, Cuddyer RF, Helton 1B, Rosario C, Arenado 3B, Nicasio P

Today's Starting Pitchers

Carlos Villanueva Cubs vs. Juan Nicasio Rockies vs. Col -- vs. Cubs

Carlos Villanueva has done a good job this year moving back and forth from the rotation to the bullpen. Thus, you probably don't want to look at the boxscore from May 14 at Wrigley Field, his previous appearance against the Rockies this year -- his worst start of the year, when he allowed 12 hits and seven earned runs in five innings. Maybe that'll change tonight. We have to hope so.

The Cubs hit Juan Nicasio hard May 13 at Wrigley Field, piling up eight hits and five earned runs in six innings in a 9-1 win. Nicasio had an awful June in which he posted a 6.48 ERA in five starts, but his last outing against the Nationals was very good (no runs in seven innings). Let's hope we get the June version of Nicasio tonight.

Today's game is on WGN.

Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

SB Nation game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Rockies site Purple Row.

Here's the scoop on game threads for 2013. You'll find the game preview -- like this one -- posting as the first link in the StoryStream™, which will then contain all the overflow threads and the recap. The recap will also be on the front page as a separate post; once I post a game recap, the stream for each game will be retitled "Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of Week) Game Threads" so you can go back and find every thread related to that particular game.

In general, game previews will post two hours before game time. Exception: for day games after night games, that will usually be 90 minutes.

You will also be able to find the First Pitch Thread and all the overflow threads in the box marked "Chicago Cubs Game Threads" at the bottom of the front page (you can also find them in this section link). They will also appear in this StoryStream™. As I've done for each regular-season game for several years now, we'll have the First Pitch thread at five minutes before game time (moved up from actual game time per your requests), then an overflow one hour, two hours and 2:45 after game time.

Discuss amongst yourselves.