MESA, Ariz. _ Cubs starter Yu Darvish showed Tuesday that his surgically repaired right elbow is healthy, but he needs to work on his control.
Darvish, who made only eight starts in 2018 because of a stress reaction in his right elbow and a triceps strain that led to surgery Sept. 12, threw only 17 of 36 pitches for strikes against the Diamondbacks at Sloan Park.
Darvish's velocity topped out at 96 mph, but he walked four in 11/3 innings. After retiring the first two batters on five pitches in the first, Darvish walked the next two batters before retiring Steven Souza on a fly to deep center.
In the second, Darvish walked former Cubs catcher Alex Avila to start the inning and was pulled after walking Jazz Chisholm with one out.
It was Darvish's first appearance against major league hitters since May 20.
Darvish is starting the second year of a six-year, $126 million contract.
The Cubs scored four runs in the top of the first before Darvish was charged with two of the five runs scored by the Diamondbacks in the second. Darvish didn't allow a hit but was charged with one earned run.
Right fielder Jason Heyward was scratched for personal reasons. Albert Almora Jr. took over at the leadoff spot, and Mark Zagunis was inserted in right field.
Almora hit a double in the bottom of the first and scored on a single by Anthony Rizzo.
