Let me be the thirteenth person to point to Wood backs out of start (ChiTrib).
What I was going to do today is walk thru the opening games and figure out if this “Prior can be the fifth starter – and we don’t need him for a while so it’s alllll good” think makes sense. It’s not too helpful now, but…
04/04 @t ARZ: Carlos
04/05 @t ARZ: Dempster
04/06 @t ARZ: Maddux
04/07 OFF
04/08 vs MIL: Wood/Rusch
04/09 vs MIL: Carlos
04/10 vs MIL: Dempster
04/11 vs SDP: Maddux
04/12 vs SDP: Prior/Sergio
All they’re doing is skipping one start. Of course, if only one of Prior/Wood is hurt, they could stretch out the stall time indefintely by putting Rusch in the rotation. It’s where he’s going to end up, surely.
Who benefits from Wood having a bad night of rest: Ohman and Randolph. Rusch has got to be back starting if Wood can’t, which means the second lefty slot he was (sorta wasted) in is now back in play.