No hes not on a pitch count officially. But you know they will be watching close. And I know he will not go all out.
CHICAGO -- Mark Prior has hopefully thrown his last simulated game of the season.
The Chicago Cubs said Friday that Prior will be activated from the disabled list and start on Sunday in the Interleague series finale against the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.
Prior was 4-1 with a 2.93 ERA in nine starts before he was hit on the right elbow by a line drive May 27. He suffered a compressed fracture, but has recovered well enough to start on Sunday, less than a month after the injury.
"Mechanically, everything feels good, so I'm ready to go," Prior said Friday.
The Cubs will watch him. He threw 77 pitches in his last sim game on Tuesday in Milwaukee.
"I don't have a limit in my mind," Prior said. "I'm just going to go out there and compete. I think I can go as long as I'm throwing the ball well. I feel I can go out there and go deep in the game. [The White Sox] are a good ballclub and on the verge of being a great ballclub, and it's going to be a battle."
Prior faced the White Sox on May 22 and picked up the win, giving up three runs on six hits -- including three solo homers -- in a complete game. He struck out seven. He wasn't targeting the White Sox series for his comeback.
"It doesn't really matter. It's another game," Prior said. "Obviously, I missed some time and want to be back out there and contribute to this ballclub."
While Prior will go from two simulated games to the rotation, teammate Kerry Wood was scheduled to make his third Minor League rehab start Friday night in Des Moines for Triple-A Iowa. Wood has been out since April 30 because of a strained right shoulder.
"There's no need," Prior said of a Minor League start. "If I've got the ability to go deep in the game, why waste it in Triple-A?"
Cubs pitchers have been roughed up lately, giving up 29 runs in the last three games. Prior said neither he nor Wood are going to turn things around immediately.
"We're just going to come back out and try to do our jobs," Prior said. "When I go out there, I'm just trying to give us a chance to win ballgames. Whether that's giving up seven and still having a lead or giving up nothing and leading 1-0. That's the goal every start is try to win however possible.
"It's been a tough stretch here and we've played a lot of good ballclubs," he said. "Hopefully we can keep pushing and keep fighting and stay within reach of the Wild Card and our division."
Prior said his changeup was off in his last sim game, but expected to feel better once he gets into the rotation and a regular routine.
"You're going to lose a little of your touch, but I think it's mentally how you feel about going in," Prior said. "If you're confident with your stuff, you'll be all right."
There's no more pain or discomfort.
"I'm not apprehensive and I wouldn't come back if I didn't feel like I was ready to come back and help this team win a ballgame," he said.
Getting Prior and Wood back will be a huge lift for the Cubs.
"I think that's the biggest part of baseball, is starting pitching," Cubs second baseman Todd Walker said. "If we get two of our five guys we expected to be there back and get them pitching like they're capable, we can make a major run. "That's the most important thing, is getting our starters back," Walker said. " We all know Wood and Prior can be as dominating as anybody in the game. You get two guys like that back, you have a good chance."
CHICAGO -- Mark Prior has hopefully thrown his last simulated game of the season.
The Chicago Cubs said Friday that Prior will be activated from the disabled list and start on Sunday in the Interleague series finale against the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.
Prior was 4-1 with a 2.93 ERA in nine starts before he was hit on the right elbow by a line drive May 27. He suffered a compressed fracture, but has recovered well enough to start on Sunday, less than a month after the injury.
"Mechanically, everything feels good, so I'm ready to go," Prior said Friday.
The Cubs will watch him. He threw 77 pitches in his last sim game on Tuesday in Milwaukee.
"I don't have a limit in my mind," Prior said. "I'm just going to go out there and compete. I think I can go as long as I'm throwing the ball well. I feel I can go out there and go deep in the game. [The White Sox] are a good ballclub and on the verge of being a great ballclub, and it's going to be a battle."
Prior faced the White Sox on May 22 and picked up the win, giving up three runs on six hits -- including three solo homers -- in a complete game. He struck out seven. He wasn't targeting the White Sox series for his comeback.
"It doesn't really matter. It's another game," Prior said. "Obviously, I missed some time and want to be back out there and contribute to this ballclub."
While Prior will go from two simulated games to the rotation, teammate Kerry Wood was scheduled to make his third Minor League rehab start Friday night in Des Moines for Triple-A Iowa. Wood has been out since April 30 because of a strained right shoulder.
"There's no need," Prior said of a Minor League start. "If I've got the ability to go deep in the game, why waste it in Triple-A?"
Cubs pitchers have been roughed up lately, giving up 29 runs in the last three games. Prior said neither he nor Wood are going to turn things around immediately.
"We're just going to come back out and try to do our jobs," Prior said. "When I go out there, I'm just trying to give us a chance to win ballgames. Whether that's giving up seven and still having a lead or giving up nothing and leading 1-0. That's the goal every start is try to win however possible.
"It's been a tough stretch here and we've played a lot of good ballclubs," he said. "Hopefully we can keep pushing and keep fighting and stay within reach of the Wild Card and our division."
Prior said his changeup was off in his last sim game, but expected to feel better once he gets into the rotation and a regular routine.
"You're going to lose a little of your touch, but I think it's mentally how you feel about going in," Prior said. "If you're confident with your stuff, you'll be all right."
There's no more pain or discomfort.
"I'm not apprehensive and I wouldn't come back if I didn't feel like I was ready to come back and help this team win a ballgame," he said.
Getting Prior and Wood back will be a huge lift for the Cubs.
"I think that's the biggest part of baseball, is starting pitching," Cubs second baseman Todd Walker said. "If we get two of our five guys we expected to be there back and get them pitching like they're capable, we can make a major run. "That's the most important thing, is getting our starters back," Walker said. " We all know Wood and Prior can be as dominating as anybody in the game. You get two guys like that back, you have a good chance."
