by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (5/15/2013) Cubs third baseman Luis Valbuena returned to the lineup for Wednesday's series finale against the Rockies after missing time due to a sprained finger on his right hand. He went 1 for 4 with a single in a 6-3 win.
Luis Valbuena expected back Wednesday
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (5/14/2013) Cubs manager Dale Sveum said on Tuesday that Luis Valbuena will return to the lineup for Wednesday's series finale against the Rockies, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Valbuena has been dealing with a sprained finger on his right hand since Saturday.
Luis Valbuena available for Cubs
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (5/13/2013) Cubs third baseman Luis Valbuena was available to pinch-hit in Monday's series opener against the Rockies, manager Dale Sveum told MLB.com.
Valbuena sprained a finger on his right hand Saturday. He is batting .364 (8 for 22) through 10 games in May with one RBI.
Luis Valbuena not ready for games
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (5/13/2013) Cubs third baseman Luis Valbuena was held out of the starting lineup for the second straight game Monday against Colorado due to a jammed right pinkie finger. Valbuena was able to play catch and hit in the batting cage Sunday, but remained sidelined as Cody Ransom earned another start at third.
Luis Valbuena nursing injured finger
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (5/12/2013) Cubs third baseman Luis Valbuena was held out of the starting lineup for Sunday's game at Washington after suffering a jammed right pinkie during the previous game. Valbuena is considered day to day with the issue while Cody Ransom, his platoon-mate, earned the start at third base.
X-rays negative for Luis Valbuena
by Adam Moore | CBSSports.com (5/11/2013) X-rays of Cubs third basemen Luis Valbuena's injured right pinkie were negative, MLB.com reports. Valbuena was forced to leave Saturday's win over the Nationals in the fifth inning after he jammed his right pinkie while sliding into third base.
Valbuena is being listed as day to day but should be available to pinch-hit Sunday, according to the report.
The 27-year-old went 1 for 2 prior to leaving the game and is hitting .276 with two doubles and one RBI over the last 10 games.
Luis Valbuena leaves with finger injury
by Adam Moore | CBSSports.com (5/11/2013) Cubs third basemen Luis Valbuena left Saturday's game against the Nationals after hurting his right pinkie. Valbuena jammed his pinkie while sliding into third base in the fifth inning while trying to stretch a double into a triple.
He was immediately pulled from the game and taken for X-rays.
Valbuena, who went 1 for 2 prior to leaving the game, was replaced at third base by Cody Ransom.
Dale Sveum sees Luis Valbuena as everyday player
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (5/7/2013) Cubs third baseman Luis Valbuena entered Tuesday's series opener against the Cardinals batting .271 with five homers and 13 RBI through 27 games.
While Valbuena has platooned at times early on, manager Dale Sveum told MLB.com that he sees the 27-year-old as an everyday player.
"I would never have any problem playing him every day, because his at-bats against left-handers are pure and he sees pitches and doesn't swing out of the zone against left-handed pitching," Sveum said. "He's obviously an everyday player. He's one of the most productive third basemen in the game right now."
Luis Valbuena earns Cubs' trust
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (5/3/2013) Cubs third baseman Luis Valbuena went 3 for 4 to halt a two-game hitless skid during Chicago's 6-5 loss to Cincinnati Friday. Valbuena roped three singles to raise his batting average nearly 30 points to .253 on the season.
Before the game, Cubs manager Dale Sveum expressed confidence in Valbuena and platoon-mate Cody Ransom to continue handling the third-base job after Ian Stewart was optioned to Triple-A Iowa. The two have combined for seven home runs in 28 games this year.
"Right now, that combination is one of the best in baseball at that position," Sveum told MLB.com. "There's nothing you need to change there."
Luis Valbuena mashes fifth home run
by Jack Moore | CBSSports.com (5/1/2013) Cubs third baseman Luis Valbuena hit his fifth home run in a loss Tuesday against San Diego.
Valbuena is hitting for power previously unseen in his career. His owns a .500 slugging percentage despite never finishing a season above .416 in his career. His career high in home runs is 10, reached in 103 games with Cleveland in 2009.
Luis Valbuena's power finally translating
by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com (4/29/2013)Luis Valbuena has put together some encouraging minor-league seasons in his career, but that's never translated to the majors.
Valbuena clubbed 17 home runs in Triple-A during the 2011 season, which caused him to be a highly coveted waiver claim in 2012. The Blue Jays actually traded for Valbuena, but couldn't keep him around, allowing the Cubs to claim him.
Through 20 games, Valbuena already has four home runs. While he was supposed to split time with Ian Stewart, and has taken advantage while Stewart has been sidelined with an injury. Valbuena doesn't have a high upside, but can hit for a decent amount of power. He could find himself in a full-time role if he keeps producing.
Luis Valbuena could be long-term third baseman
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (4/25/2013) Cubs third baseman Luis Valbuena hit his fourth home run of the year Thursday, breaking a 3-3 tie in the ninth inning in a game that the Cubs won, 4-3.
Even though Ian Stewart has been making progress in his rehab, Valbuena could remain the starter once Stewart returns.
"He's got to earn it," manager Dale Sveum told the Chicago Sun-Times of Stewart, adding that Luis Valbuena is "one of our most consistent players right now. So it's going to be very difficult to move [him] out of a spot."
Luis Valbuena clubs home run
by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com (4/23/2013) Cubs infielder Luis Valbuena hit his third home run of the season Monday.
Valbuena put the Cubs ahead of the Reds in the top of the 13th inning, hitting a two-run shot. Valbuena also hit a single in the game, going 2 for 6. The Cubs blew the game in the bottom of the inning, taking the attention off Valbuena's blast.
Luis Valbuena drives in two and steals a base
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (4/18/2013) Cubs third baseman Luis Valbuena had a productive afternoon in his team's 6-2 win over the Rangers, hitting a double and a single, driving in two runs and recording his first stolen base of the year. It was Valbuena's second multi-hit game of the year, raising his line to .222/.364/.361 in 44 plate appearances.
Luis Valbuena draws team-leading fifth walk in loss
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (4/11/2013) Cubs third baseman Luis Valbuena doubled and drew a walk in a 7-6 loss to the Giants Thursday, giving him a team-high five walks and a .200/.333/.360 line in 30 plate appearances.
Valbuena should continue to see the bulk of playing time at third base.
Luis Valbuena connects for first home run of season
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (4/6/2013) Cubs third baseman Luis Valbuena connected on his first home run of the season in his team's 6-5 loss to the Braves Saturday night. He was 0-for-9 heading into the game but also added a single and a walk to reach base three times in five trips to the plate.
Valbuena should continue to share time with Brent Lillibridge at the hot corner while Ian Stewart heals.
Valbuena not counting chickens
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (2/16/2013) Cubs infielder Luis Valbuena has a spot on the team's roster for the 2013 season according to manager Dale Sveum. That said, Valbuena doesn't want to take anything for granted after he was released by the Blue Jays at the end of the spring last year. "I don't feel like I'm on the team,'' said Valbuena, 27, who was claimed on waivers by the Cubs the day before the season started last year. "I have to work hard like I did the last two years. I don't feel like I'm on the 40-man [roster] or on the team. I don't feel comfortable. I feel like I have to play 100 percent.''
