May 18--The Cubs will start left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada on Wednesday when they face the Padres in San Diego, manager Joe Maddon confirmed Sunday.
Travis Wood was told Saturday that he has been moved from the starting rotation to the bullpen. He picked up his first career save on Saturday. Wada will return to the Cubs after a rehab stint at Triple-A Iowa.
"I have a lot of faith in this guy coming out of the pen," Maddon said of Wood. "He has had some really good games this year and really good moments in other ones. Just go out there and be aggressive, assertive and let it go for an inning or two. I think when he does that, he can be really good.
"We also talked to him about the potential of becoming a starter again at some point. But right now we are looking at it this way."
Wood's versatility makes him more than a left-handed complement in Maddon's eyes.
"I am not afraid of (Wood) anywhere," he said. "Woody has the ability to get out good right-handed hitters too."
Wood took the demotion in stride.
"Whatever I can do to help the team win," he said before Sunday's game. "We're hitting on all cylinders now."
Errorless streak: The Cubs extended their errorless streak to eight games and continued to make some sparkling defensive plays.
"When you are winning, the mental acuity of all us is a little bit higher," Maddon said. "The focus is there, the concentration is there. If you make an error, you make an error. So what? But we've been making plays."
Extra innings: Kris Bryant, who extended his hitting streak to seven games, left Sunday's game in the top of the fifth inning feeling under the weather. Bryant, who starred at the University of San Diego, returns to the city where he won the Golden Spikes Award as the best amateur player in 2013. The Cubs open a series with the Padres on Tuesday night. ... Jason Hammel is scheduled to start Tuesday against the Padres, followed by Wada and Kyle Hendricks.
