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Cubs prepare for weekend visit to Miller Park

CHICAGO — The suddenly pitching-short Cubs take their show on the road for the first time this season, starting this weekend in Milwaukee and then going through Houston and Colorado.

Based on last season’s statistics that may not be a bad thing. The Cubs were 40-41 on the road compared to 35-46 at Wrigley Field. They were 6-3 mark at Miller Park.

“Now it’s time to see what we’re made of,” Marlon Byrd said. “We have to keep doing what we’re doing, pitching and (playing) defense and get some timely hitting.”

This is another in an early test for the Cubs, who finished 3-3 against the last-place finishing Pirates and Diamondbacks at home. The Brewers and Astros present intra-division matchups, and the Cubs were 34-45 in the National League Central last season.

Pitching in: It won’t exactly be an enviable season debut Sunday for Casey Coleman, who has been summoned to replace disabled Randy Wells. His opponent is Yovani Gallardo, who threw a complete-game two-hitter against the Braves last time out.

Losing fourth starter Wells and fifth starter Andrew Cashner for a month or more gives a quick reality check to manager Mike Quade, who had little adversity in his 37 games last season.

“This didn’t go on last year, thank God,” he said. “If you’re shell-shocked by what happened and let it affect you, you’re not going to be doing this for very long. Put it behind you. You win games with healthy people and you concern yourself with guys who are here healthy.

“When you hear about people being shut down for a year, things could be a lot worse. I’m expecting three or four weeks and they’ll be back in action. It’s a lot better than three or four months. Nobody’s feeling sorry for us and I’m certainly not.”