Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish declined to talk to reporters before Monday’s game about the forearm tightness that caused him to be scratched from Sunday’s start.
But team officials say the right-hander, who has been a workhorse for the rotation this season, still is expected to start Saturday in Milwaukee as scheduled.
But consider it just one more hurdle to clear for the Cubs down the stretch, one more reason – even in a best-case scenario – for the Cubs to limit Darvish’s workload down the stretch.
He’s 5-6 with a 4.25 ERA – 2.93 in nine starts since the All-Star break.
The team called Sunday’s decision “precautionary” even as pitching coach Tommy Hottovy acknowledged the location of the soreness makes it a “little bit scarier” than some other areas of the arm or body.
Regardless of the severity, the episode at least underscores a season-long concern over Darvish’s workload following a 2018 season limited to 40 innings by elbow problems.
He’s tied with Jose Quintana for the team lead with 152 1/3 innings this season.
“The fact that we have been concerned about the number of innings pitched from last year to this year jumping so dramatically, Tommy and I have been talking about that all year,” manager Joe Maddon said. “When you make dramatic jumps you’re always concerned, maybe not even about this year, but about next year.
“But he’s done it before. That’s still in the back of your mind. He’s thrown the requisite number of innings in the past so that’s helpful to know”
Counting postseason, Darvish threw 201 2/3 innings in 2017, his first full season back from Tommy John surgery.
“For right now, we’ll just get him out there again hopefully this weekend and take it from there,” Maddon said.
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