Throughout this spring, it was looking more and more like Carson High graduate Donovan Osborne would complete his comeback by making the Chicago Cubs' opening day roster.
Roster moves by the Cubs on Wednesday virtually assured that Osborne will be with the team on opening day.
Meanwhile, fellow Carson graduate Dave Lundquist went into the last week of spring training in a three-way battle for the sixth and final spot in the San Diego Padres' bullpen.
The Cubs trimmed their roster to 27 players on Wednesday. Chicago must cut its roster to 25 when it opens in Cincinnati against the Reds on Monday.
The current roster cuts leave the Cubs with 12 pitchers for 11 spots. The final spot is expected to come down to Carlos Zambrano or Joe Borowski. The Chicago Tribune reported on Wednesday that Cubs Manager Don Baylor could decide between Zambrano and Borowski as soon as today.
Two other pitchers were cut from the Cubs' opening day roster on Wednesday. Alan Benes, another pitcher hoping to make a comeback, was sent to the Cubs' minor league camp while Courtney Duncan was sent to Chicago's Triple A affiliate, Iowa.
The other cut from the opening day roster for the Cubs should come down to veteran pinch-hitter Angel Echevarria or third catcher Robert Machado.
Osborne last pitched in the Major Leagues in 1999. He allowed one run on two hits in one inning, but struck out two in the Cubs' 7-6 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday.
Lundquist had another impressive outing for the Padres in their 4-1 win over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday, allowing no runs on no hits and walking none while striking out one in one inning.
In 10 1/3 innings, Lundquist has a 2.61 earned run average this spring. But statistically, Lundquist appears to be losing the battle for the Padres' final bullpen spot to Jason Boyd and Matt DeWitt.
Boyd hasn't allowed a run in 8 1/3 innings this spring while DeWitt has a 1.29 E.R.A. in 14 innings this spring.
Lundquist has had stints in the Major Leagues with the Chicago White Sox in 1999 and the Padres last season.
