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CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs surged ahead early in a 6-2 victory over the San Diego Padres in the third of a four-game set at Wrigley Field on Wednesday.

How it happened: Former Cub and No. 1 draft pick Andrew Cashner started for the first time against Chicago. Cashner was traded to San Diego for first baseman Anthony Rizzo in 2011. Manager Dale Sveum started seven left-handed hitters in his lineup. Starlin Castro started the scoring with an RBI single that plated Julio Borbon in the first inning. Cubs starting pitcher Scott Feldman doubled in the second run, scoring Darwin Barney in the second inning. Cashner's pitch count (76 through three innings) skyrocketed in the third, thanks in large part to a two-run double by catcher Dioner Navarro. Cashner’s 89th pitch was an RBI groundout off the bat of Luis Valbuena. Nate Schierholtz doubled home the sixth run in the seventh inning. San Diego second baseman Jedd Gyorko hits his first major league home run to break up Feldman's shutout in the eighth. Chase Headley homered with one out in the ninth.

What it means: The Cubs have won six of their past nine games. With a win on Thursday, they can wrap up their second straight series victory. Feldman pitched his first career complete game as he records his second consecutive win while striking out 12. That matches his career high. After a rough beginning to the season, the veteran pitcher has been outstanding as of late.

Outside the box: Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said infielder Ian Stewart is not ready to return to the major leagues; he's rehabbing a leg injury in the minors. Teams can send a player out for only 20 days on a rehab assignment. “You can always get recertified if you are not healthy yet," Epstein said. "He has had some bumps and bruises along the way. We will just monitor it daily and see how he is doing.” … Another rehab began for the Cubs as RHP Matt Garza threw 42 pitches in 2⅔ innings at Double-A on Wednesday. Garza is rehabbing from a strained side muscle he injured on Feb. 17. Sveum said Garza will return to the team in between minor league starts. He also stated his pitcher would be re-evaluated after the third outing.

Up next: Chicago LHP Travis Wood (2-1, 2.25 ERA) faces Padres LHP Eric Stults (2-2, 5.67 ERA) in Thursday's series finale.

CHICAGO -- Chicago Cubs manager Dale Sveum has moved third baseman Luis Valbuena up in the order as he will bat third against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday while left fielder Alfonso Soriano is being given the day off.

"When Sori isn't in the lineup you have to have some creativity," Sveum said before the game. "Valbuena is swinging great so he's a logical choice to get into that spot. You have to be creative when you get your normal lineup out of there."

Valbuena hit his fifth home run of the season on Tuesday, surpassing his total from all of last season. The lineup also features Starlin Castro batting fifth for the first time this season.

Here's the entire lineup that will face former Cub Andrew Cashner:

1. David DeJesus, CF
2. Julio Borbon, LF
3. Valbuena, 3B
4. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
5. Castro, SS
6. Nate Schierholtz, RF
7. Dioner Navarro, C
8. Darwin Barney, 2B
9. Scott Feldman, P

MILWAUKEE -- Chicago Cubs manager Dale Sveum might be sending a message to his team after yet another sloppy loss on Saturday night to the Milwaukee Brewers.

"We're making mistakes that rookie ball people make," Sveum said after a 5-1 loss. "It seems to be the story every night."

The Cubs made three more bad errors Saturday leading to four unearned runs, and most alarming is they were made by key players -- two of whom should remain with the team if the Cubs become contenders over the next several years.

"It's unbelievable," Starlin Castro said. "I think we're trying to do too much. Trying to be too perfect."

Castro made his fourth error of the season, with two outs and a man on third base, on the easiest of ground balls in the fifth inning. That was preceded earlier in the inning by a fly ball that Alfonso Soriano dropped after thinking he had to go back for it instead of toward the infield. One inning later, Edwin Jackson threw away a potential double-play ball into center field.

"I double clutched," Jackson said. "Once I doubled clutched I didn't gather back up; caused me to open up instead of stay closed."

As always with this team lately, the outcome of the game is secondary. A more important concern is Castro's ability to play shortstop. Another question is whether Jackson can be a mainstay after starting 0-3. He's signed for four years and $52 million. Castro for seven years and $60 million. Sveum was asked if there really is anything he can do about the defense in terms of personnel considering the miscues are being made by his mainstays.

"There's always options if you can't play," Sveum said cryptically. "To win in the big leagues you have to have people that perform, and perform in 162 days and not once in a while. Otherwise you lose your job."

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The Chicago Cubs' infield could be one of the better ones in the National League -- at least on defense.

Manager Dale Sveum truly believes that, and with a Gold Glove winner at second base in Darwin Barney and a two-time All-Star at shortstop in Starlin Castro, it would be hard to argue with him.

Anthony Rizzo is more than capable at first base and although Ian Stewart is a natural third baseman, his replacement for now, Luis Valbuena, showed last season he could play the position. Welington Castillo is the X factor as a first time starting catcher.

The questions come on offense. Can Barney be better? And will Rizzo do it for a full year as most expect? Castro remains the centerpiece. He has all the abilities to put together a breakout year and should be a bigger threat with his speed and power. Castillo has pop but hit under .200 in spring training.

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TEMPE, Ariz. -- Is it a coincidence in the days after Chicago Cubs third baseman Ian Stewart injured his left quad, that his replacement has taken off? Luis Valbuena has home runs on two consecutive days -- the latest against the Los Angeles Angels in an 11-2 win to kick off the Cactus League on Saturday.

“I’d be so happy if I win that job,” he said after the game. “Happy because of the work I do all year. Winter ball and spring training, that’s what I try to do -- put everything together.”

Valbuena says he’s being aggressive at the plate, and the results are starting to show. He wasn’t supposed to play in Friday’s intra-squad affair, but after Stewart and Josh Vitters were injured the day before, he promptly hit a ball out of Hohokam Park. Then came the long one on Saturday. Third base might be his job to win while Stewart is healing.

“It’s not my decision,” Valbuena said. “I’m just competing. I do my job like I know how to do.”

Travis Wood

Cubs pitcher Travis Wood knows he’s in a numbers game to make the rotation. When all are healthy, the Cubs have seven starters for five spots. With two (Matt Garza and Scott Baker) behind in terms of health, Wood has a great chance to be there come April.

“I like it, where I’m at,” he said after throwing two innings against the Angels on Saturday. “There’s still other guys out there, and everyone is competing for the same spot. It’ll be fun the rest of camp. We’ll see what happens.”

Wood was inconsistent last season but better in the second half; that’s what he wants to build on. He started Saturday’s game surrendering a walk and a double but got the next six batters out before departing -- though not before those two runners scored.

“I hate leadoff walks, but it was nice to get back out there and get in the flow of things and game situations,” Wood said. “It was nice to go out and have a good second [inning] once I calmed down and got the first out of the way and back to business.”

He struck out two in that second inning, while the two runs he gave up came on ground outs.

Brett Jackson

The first two at-bats of the Cactus League for Jackson resulted in triples, which is not bad for a guy who is re-tooling his swing. Like Valbuena, he’s carrying over a hot bat from an intra-squad game the day before in which he had three hits. Jackson has stated he expects to start the year with the Cubs, though the team has been adamant he’ll begin in Triple-A Iowa. It remains to be seen if their minds can be changed.

Jesse Rogers covers the Cubs for ESPN 1000 and ESPNChicago.com

MESA, Ariz. -- The Chicago Cubs will be without the services of third basemen Ian Stewart and Josh Vitters after both were diagnosed with mild strains of their left quad.

“It sounds like, at the earliest, they’ll be on the field in two weeks, but realistically three weeks,” manager Dale Sveum said before his team’s Cactus League opener on Saturday. “It’s unfortunate for them.”

It’s particularly bad for Stewart, who is coming off a wrist surgery that caused him to miss most of last season. He played in just 55 games, hitting .201. In the offseason, Stewart signed a one-year, $2-million contract, which is not guaranteed. The Cubs can cut him before the season while paying him a small termination fee.

Third base was his “job to win” Sveum said recently, and now the Cubs won’t have as much time to evaluate him.

“Three weeks from now basically puts you at March 14, which puts you about three weeks from Opening Day, so if he’s capable and the leg is fine … but it will be a cram session, that’s for sure,” Sveum said.

Stewart hurt his leg in an intra-squad game on Thursday and said it was sore going into the weekend. Luis Valbuena will start at third base on Saturday and probably be the starter if Stewart isn’t ready or is cut.

“Competition is what the game is meant to be,” Sveum said. “That’s the essence of spring training.”

The Cubs aren’t deep at the position. Prospect Junior Lake will get extra time there, as will Brent Lillibridge, so Stewart still has a good chance of earning his job back.

“We don’t have a whole lot of other third basemen -- they both just went down,” Sveum said laughingly.

Jesse Rogers covers the Cubs for ESPN 1000 and ESPNChicago.com

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Here’s a quick look at the Chicago Cubs' 2013 Cactus League opening game victory, an 11-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels:

The Good: Brett Jackson continued a good start to the spring by tripling in his first two at-bats, while Luis Valbuena homered to lead off the second inning. Those are players fighting for roster and/or starting spots. Travis Wood had an easy second inning of work. The Cubs' hitters picked up where they left off in intra-squad games, putting up 11 runs, including a five-run second inning and four-run eighth inning. Their approach at the plate has been solid.

The Bad: Wood started out slow, walking the leadoff man and then giving up a double. Both runners scored before he settled down.

Prospect Watch: All the major prospects who played had hits. Junior Lake hit a long home run to left -- after striking out twice -- while Jorge Soler doubled in a run. Both Logan Watkins and Javier Baez had hits and scored runs as well.

What we learned: Whatever Brett Jackson did over the winter is starting to pay off, and the fact that he’s having success early is only going to inspire him to keep at it. Valbuena handled his business at third base and at the plate, which is good news considering Ian Stewart is out up to three weeks with a quad injury. The jury is still out on Travis Wood, as he’ll need to show consistency, but his second inning was solid. Overall, the Cubs' approach at the plate in a small sample size of intra-squad games and one Cactus League contest has been very good.

Jesse Rogers covers the Cubs for ESPN 1000 and ESPNChicago.com

MESA, AZ. –- And the winner is … Nate Halm.

Halm, an assistant for video and advanced scouting, beat 15 other front office and clubhouse personnel in the “play-in” round of the Chicago Cubs annual bunting tournament.

Halm will enter the main tournament, going up against 62 Cubs players and their bullpen coach in a March Madness-style event covering much of the spring. The highlight of the 16-person tournament on Saturday was the first-round matchup pitting team president Theo Epstein against general manager Jed Hoyer. Epstein won the match decisively.

“The most important match of the year was the first one,” Epstein said. “I will say Jed and I have a long history of playing pickup basketball and other sports. That one felt good.”

The loss is particularly embarrassing for Hoyer, who played college baseball at Wesleyan. Epstein was immediately ousted in Round 2 by his 25-year-old new director of baseball operations, Scott Harris.

“I hired him,” Epstein boasted after losing to him.

Halm will compete in the main tournament starting next week after position players report on Sunday. David DeJesus is the defending champion.

Who's on third?

The opening day starter in 2012, Ian Stewart, showed up to camp on Friday followed by teammate Luis Valbuena on Saturday. Valbuena, according to manager Dale Sveum, filled in nicely for Stewart last season after the latter went down with a wrist injury. Stewart signed a one-year deal this past offseason and declared himself healthy for 2013.

Sveum was asked if third base was Stewart’s job to lose.

“It’s his job to win,” Sveum shot back.

The manager hasn’t been shy to outline what Stewart has to do to keep the job: produce.

Valbuena is happy to have a roster spot and played plenty of baseball over the winter but doesn’t feel like he can relax.

“I have to play hard,” Valbuena said on Saturday. “I have to have the start they want. I feel like I’m competing right now.”

Soler Again

Twenty year old Cuban prospect Jorge Soler put on another show in batting practice on Saturday. This time, it was on a diamond on which a home run to left field landed in the street.

“Cars are in jeopardy over there,” Sveum joked. “I’m just anxious to see him in games and see how it all plays out … To where you can start putting a picture together.”

New Number for Sveum

The Cubs manager will wear No. 4 this season, giving up his No. 33 to newcomer Carlos Villanueva. Dioner Navarro was previously No. 4 but is also switching.

“I’m not a big number guy,” Sveum said. “It [No. 4] was the first one available when I asked [equipment manager] Otis.”

Full Squad Reports

Position players are all due to report to spring training on Sunday, and Sveum says no one will be late. All are in town already.

Owner Tom Ricketts will address the team on Sunday, updating the players on renovation plans for Wrigley Field and progress on the new spring facility slated to open next year.

Jesse Rogers covers the Cubs for ESPN 1000 and ESPNChicago.com

MESA, Ariz. -– The Chicago Cubs officially begin their 2013 season Sunday when pitchers and catchers report to Fitch Park in Arizona, with position players due one week later. The team will eventually move to Hohokam Park, where games will take place.

Here are the top things to know as the Cubs continue their quest for their first championship since 1908:

Pitchers and catchers: They’ll actually report on Sunday and Monday, with their first official workout set for Tuesday. With an especially long spring training due to the World Baseball Classic, all major league teams will have to rework their normal pitching routines to prepare for the regular season. In other words, there’s no rush to ramp up the arms just yet.

Position players: They report Feb. 17, though many are already in Mesa working out and preparing. Anthony Rizzo, the team's only participant in the World Baseball Classic, will leave the Cubs to play for Team Italy.

Jed Hoyer and Theo Epstein: They’ll address the media Sunday with the focus on 2013. Though they acknowledge their long-term plans, Epstein said recently that once spring training commences, it’s all about this year. Their eyes in camp will be focused on the prospects, which ESPN.com recently ranked fifth overall in baseball.

Spring games: They begin Feb. 23 and go through March 30, with the final two exhibition games played in Houston against the Astros. The Cubs will take on the White Sox on March 7 (at home) and March 15 (away). They’ll play two split-squad games against the Texas Rangers in Las Vegas on March 16 and 17.

Position battles: Believe it or not, there probably aren’t many for a team that lost 101 games a year ago. The starting infield is set; only the backups needs to be determined among a group that includes Luis Valbuena, Alberto Gonzalez and Brent Lillibridge. There isn’t a lot of room in the outfield; the only question is if speedster and fan favorite Tony Campana will break camp with the club. Health might help determine roster spots for the pitching staff, as Scott Baker is returning from Tommy John surgery. The battle for the final two spots in the rotation might be the best of camp. Carlos Marmol is the closer at the moment, but newcomer Kyuji Fujikawa could push him.

Major questions: In the spring, a lot revolves around health. Is Ian Stewart fully recovered from wrist surgery? Will Matt Garza (elbow) and Baker be ready as April approaches? As for performances, Welington Castillo is one to watch behind the plate. Can he handle the load of being the No. 1 catcher, and will spring games help determine that? If Fujikawa is getting hitters out by going after them –- something the Cubs said they liked about him -– will he push Marmol, who relies on his slider too often? And an eye has to be kept on Alfonso Soriano. At any time, a team could decide it needs his bat, but he has to approve the deal while the Cubs have to determine how much of the $36 million he’s owed they will pick up.

Analysis: Without a lot of questions at different positions, the focus in camp might be on the highly touted prospects the Cubs have. Javier Baez got a big league invite to spring training and should get into a handful of exhibition games before heading out to minor league camp. Brett Jackson and Josh Vitters will also get long looks, though neither is expected to make the team. How Garza throws coming off an injury and who wins those back-end rotation spots are the most important pitching questions. As always, how the Cubs actually fare in Cactus League play has little consequence on the regular season.

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs announced the signing Thursday of infielder Luis Valbuena to a one-year deal to avoid salary arbitration.

The contract, which only becomes guaranteed if he makes the team, is for $930,000, according to a source familiar with the situation. Valbuena, 27, hit .219 in 90 games for the Cubs last season.

The Cubs also announced 16 non-rostered players were invited to spring training, including former White Sox infielder Brent Lillibridge. The list contains players who have signed minor league deals with invites to major league camp: OF Brian Bogusevic, Catcher J.C. Boscan, RHP Andrew Carpenter, RHP Jaye Chapman, OF Johermyn Chavez, RHP Dayan Diaz, INF Alberto Gonzalez, RHP Jensen Lewis, INF Edwin Maysonet, OF Darnell McDonald, 1B/OF Brad Nelson, RHP Blake Parker, RHP Zack Putnam, LHP Hisanori Takahashi, RHP Cory Wade.

Doug Padilla reviews the Cubs by position this week. Today he focuses on third base.

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs' biggest void this past season was at third base, which is saying something considering the team lost 101 games.

It’s still unknown how much of Ian Stewart’s struggles were caused by his injured wrist, which limited his season to just 55 games. Josh Vitters showed he isn’t ready for prime time after getting called up in August. In between, Luis Valbuena did what he could to hold down the fort.

The final numbers: Cubs third basemen combined for the worst batting average (.201), least amount of runs scored (50) and the lowest number of total bases (184) in all of baseball. They were second to last in OPB (.611) ahead only of the Chicago White Sox (.600).

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DENVER -- There was some good, some bad and some ugly when it came to the young players the Chicago Cubs brought up to the big leagues this season.

Leading the positive charge was Anthony Rizzo, who showed he was worthy of being placed in the No. 3 spot of the lineup since the day he arrived. Rizzo entered Wednesday’s game batting .286 with 14 home runs and 45 RBIs, and combined with his Triple-A numbers he had delivered 37 home runs and 107 RBIs in 150 games.

On the other end of that spectrum, though, was third baseman Josh Vitters, who struggled mightily since he was recalled in early August. Vitters entered Wednesday’s play batting .111 with two home runs and five RBIs.

“Some have shown a lot, some have done enough to certainly, if not earn a position on the team then strong consideration going into the winter,” general manager Jed Hoyer said. “Some have indicated that they need more seasoning and starting next year in Iowa is probably for the best.

“So I think that it is a mixed bag. Certainly every guy who has come up has not shown that we need to reserve a spot for him at the beginning of next season but that’s to be expected.”

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CHICAGO – Have the Chicago Cubs recent mental gaffes become a reflection of the coaching staff?

Manager Dale Sveum took the question in stride Thursday saying that he’s fine with taking the heat for some things, but what he has witnessed lately has fallen out of the realm of what is taught by him and his staff.

“I don’t take it that way because what (would be) more of a reflection (of the coaches) is screwing up bunt plays or fundamental breakdowns and all that,” Sveum said. “I don’t take anything to heart when a player gets picked off standing and gazing at the stars.”

That player who got picked off in Wednesday night’s game against the Reds was Luis Valbuena. After getting the Cubs to within a run on his RBI double in the sixth inning, Valbuena wasn’t paying attention when he was picked off second base.

“It seems we have one of these things every three, four days that are not even explainable, things that obviously you don’t practice like staying on a base when a pitcher isn’t on a mound,” Sveum said. “There are things that just boggle your mind from major league players that have played a lot of baseball to be looking off into left field before the pitcher is even on the mound. These things are unacceptable.

“Why these things happen, it drives you crazy as a manager because there is no rhyme or reason for things like that to happen.”

Just last week, Dave Sappelt cost the Cubs a run when he was thrown out at third base while tagging up. The problem was that Starlin Castro was also tagging up from third base and Sappelt was tagged out before Castro scored, costing the Cubs a run. They went on to lose a 1-0 decision to the Astros.

Most high profile this season have been mental gaffes by Castro.

There was a thought Sveum might bench Valbuena, but the left-handed hitter was in the lineup Thursday at third base over struggling rookie Josh Vitters.

“(Valbuena) feels as bad as anybody,” Sveum said. “It’s not one of those things where he was dogging it or anything like that. Why these brain farts happen it’s not to bench somebody over it. It’s hard to fathom something like that happens, especially in a key moment in a ballgame. We had them on the ropes right there.”

CHICAGO -- There was a defensive misplay from Alfonso Soriano in the first inning that led to a run and one from David DeJesus in the 11th inning that helped the Cincinnati Reds to a 6-5 victory Wednesday.

Those mistakes were wind-aided, though.

The miscue that had Chicago Cubs manager Dale Sveum seething came when Luis Valbuena stopped paying attention on the base paths to end a sixth-inning rally.

A week after a Dave Sappelt base-running blunder cost the Cubs the chance to tie a game at Houston, Valbuena was the latest to pull off a head scratcher on the bases.

Shortly after his two-run double brought the Cubs to within a run at 5-4, Valbuena took his lead off second base while appearing to remove his batting gloves. Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips tiptoed to the bag, took the throw from pitcher Mike Leake and applied the tag on Valbuena, who never knew what happened.

End of inning.

In a season where the Cubs’ roster has been overmatched, the last thing the club needs to be doing is beating itself.

Perhaps because he didn’t want to erupt over the miscue, Sveum was curt when asked what Valbuena might have been thinking.

“I have no idea,” he said.

Asked about it again, Sveum was only slightly more forthcoming.

“I don’t know what he did,” Sveum said. “Obviously he went to sleep.”

Sveum said before the game that he planned on giving struggling rookie Josh Vitters a break from third base for a few days. It’s possible Valbuena inspired the manager to change his mind.

CHICAGO – The improvements Josh Vitters needs to make will have to take place behind the scenes over the next few days as the young third baseman has started to see limited playing time.

Vitters was brought up in August to get some exposure at the major-league level, but so far all that has happened is that he has been exposed himself.

Vitters entered play Wednesday with a .108 batting average and .157 on-base percentage. On defense, he continues to have problems making accurate throws to first base on routine plays.

“His throwing on the spontaneous play is, it’s the routine play that’s giving him trouble,” manager Dale Sveum said. “That might be one of those things where you drop down, you throw side arm. Talking to him, the bottom line, once you get to the big leagues, we don’t really care how it gets down, just get it done.”

The coaching staff is currently trying to assess if a traditional method of defense suits Vitters best or if he needs to put his own signature on how he plays in the field. Sveum talked about guys like Carney Lansford and Cal Ripken, who incorporated a side-arm throwing motion, while Robin Ventura used to play deep and charge balls.

“For certain people, they can do things by the book, but when you play third base, it’s more spontaneous, it’s more how you get the job done, what’s more comfortable to you,” Sveum said. “If you watch some of the great third basemen of all time, none of them were the prototypical of the way you teach infield play.

“It’s such a position where you don’t get many routine plays. There are a lot of different bounces, different angles, obviously swinging bunts.”

Vitters isn’t expected to play much on the remaining homestand with games against contenders Cincinnati and St. Louis remaining. He could start getting more chances when the Cubs hit the road for Colorado and Arizona next week.

While Vitters hasn’t shown much in his short big-league stint so far, Sveum wasn’t about to say that the Cubs will be interested in finding somebody else for third base next year. They also have Luis Valbuena on the roster, with Ian Stewart arbitration eligible this offseason.

“We don’t know,” Sveum said. “Wherever we have the resources to spend money we don’t know where we’re going to spend it right now. Obviously we have some holes in a lot of areas that might need to be fixed and we don’t know exactly where that money is going to go.

“Valbuena is going to be part of the organization and he does a heck of a job himself. We don’t know what is going to happen there. Being pushed (by a third baseman from outside the organization) isn’t exactly one thing to look at now. You have to be the guy before getting pushed.”