Carlos Villanueva will start for the Cubs on Saturday

Carlos Villanueva will start Saturday in Washington, MLB.com's Carrie Muskat reports.

Analysis:

With Jeff Samardzija, Saturday's original scheduled starter, headed to Oakland in a blockbuster trade, Villanueva is expected to join the rotation, at least for now. Last season he posted a 4.50 ERA in 90 innings as a starter, recording just 65 strikeouts and allowing 12 home runs, so there's not much upside here.