Wood Will Start Tuesday Night

After missing all of last season, Kerry Wood will make his return to the majors Tuesday night against the Houston Astros.

“I feel good about it. I’m excited about it,” Wood said Sunday afternoon. “I’m sure I’ll have some nerves going. The first inning of every game I’ve pitched so far I’ve had butterflies, so I don’t expect anything to change from that aspect.”

The 1998 NL rookie of the year hasn’t pitched in the majors since Oct. 3, 1998, Game 3 of the first-round playoffs against Atlanta. He blew out his elbow in spring training last year, and had “Tommy John” reconstructive elbow surgery in April 1999.

He has made three strong rehabilitation starts this spring, throwing 90-mph-plus and gradually working in his breaking pitches.

Cub Manager Don Baylor decided to pitch Wood on Tuesday even though it’s a night game.

“He’s going to have to pitch in a night game sooner or later. We might as well go ahead and do that,” Baylor said. “The weather supposedly is 65 or so. We can get by with that.”

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Outfielder Jacob Cruz tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while making a catch against the outfield wall during Saturday’s win over the Boston Red Sox and was put on the 60-day disabled list by the Cleveland Indians.

The Indians also put outfielder Kenny Lofton on the 15-day list with a strained left biceps muscle.

The club recalled outfielder Jolbert Cabrera and purchased the contract of outfielder Mark Whiten from triple-A Buffalo of the International League.

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The San Diego Padres put Tony Gwynn on the 15-day disabled list because of a sore left knee that’s contributed to his unfathomable .186 batting average.

Gwynn, who turns 40 on May 9, has had fluid drained from the knee at least five times since spring training, most recently Thursday after playing on the artificial turf in Pittsburgh.

The Padres activated infielder Dave Magadan, who had been on the DL since April 11 because of a strained right elbow.

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Baltimore right-hander Scott Erickson, coming back from elbow surgery, completed his rehabilitation assignment by pitching seven shutout innings for double-A Bowie against Akron in an Eastern League game. He’ll get his first start of the season Friday against the New York Yankees.

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Jaime Navarro refused to report to the Milwaukee Brewers’ triple-A affiliate in Indianapolis and was released. . . . Outfielder Felix Jose of the New York Yankees was put on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained left groin.