Anthony Rizzo not starting Sunday’s game against Milwaukee won’t raise too many eyebrows.
Yu Darvish? That’s a different story.
Darvish was scratched from his turn due to right forearm tightness and replaced by Tyler Chatwood. The Cubs said Darvish had been dealing with the problem for the past month, that the decision to skip him was precautionary, and he’s still fully expected to make his start Saturday against the Brewers.
However, any developments around Darvish and forearm issues are disconcerting at best. His first season with the Cubs was wrecked by arm problems, and forearm troubles can be precursors to serious elbow issues, which Darvish had when he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2015.
Pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said Darvish - or any pitcher - having forearm stiffness a day before a start is a “little bit scarier” and makes it more important to take care of now to keep him ready for the rest of the season.
“Forearm can mean different things,” Hottovy said. “It could be muscular. It could be nerve stuff. There’s a lot of things that go on there. But for him, we feel confident that it’s just a muscle issue and hopefully it will get taken care of.”
Darvish has arguably been the Cubs’ best pitcher this season and a potential Game 1 starter in the playoffs. He has 78 strikeouts and three walks over his past 10 starts, and started living up to his controversial six-year, $126 million contract.
Manager Joe Maddon said the decision to scratch Darvish had been in the works since Saturday.
“We’ve been eyeing it up,” Maddon said. “Tommy’s been on us about this for a bit. You’ve got to be careful watching the number of innings (152 1/3) he’s pitched, so we just thought this would be the right thing to do.”
As for Rizzo, the day off was for maintenance and to keep him away from Gio Gonzalez. Lifetime, Rizzo is 3 for 34 (.088) against Gonzalez.
Making the calls
Next year, teams will only be able to carry 28 players from Sept. 1 through the remainder of the season. But in 2019, the Cubs took advantage of the current rules.
Daniel Descalso (left ankle) was activated off the injured list, while Albert Almora Jr., Taylor Davis, Robel Garcia, Alec Mills, Duane Underwood Jr. and Brad Wieck were recalled from Class AAA Iowa. Those moves, combined with Saturday’s demotion of David Bote, leave the Cubs’ roster at 32.
Wieck was acquired from San Diego for Carl Edwards Jr. Since he’s 6-9, Maddon quipped the Cubs’ basketball team just got better with Wieck’s addition.
Of more import, Wieck adds another left-hander to the bullpen.
“The fact that he’s so tall creates, if he gets the fastball where he wants to it’s a tough thing to really square up,” Maddon said.
Honoring Smith
Lee Smith was honored in a pregame ceremony.
Inducted this summer into the Hall of Fame, Smith saved 478 games, including 180 with the Cubs from 1980-87. The team will fly a flag above Wrigley Field reading SMITH and 180 for the remainder of the season in his honor.
Emceed by Len Kasper, dignitaries at the ceremony included mayor Lori Lightfoot, Tom Ricketts and Crane Kenney. Members of Smith’s family were present, and fellow Hall of Famers Billy Williams, Ferguson Jenkins and Ryne Sandberg attended, as did a handful of other former Cubs.
