ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. _ After throwing a 25-pitch bullpen session with no pain, Jake Arrieta is ready to rejoin the Cubs rotation Thursday night in Milwaukee.
"The idea is just to see how I bounce back and respond," Arrieta said Tuesday. "And I anticipate to feeling very good, and the plan is to be out there Thursday."
If Arrieta reports Wednesday that he's pain-free, he will make his first start since suffering a Grade 1 strain of his right hamstring Sept. 4. Arrieta said his arm feels fresh as the result of the layoff.
Arrieta said he's scheduled to throw 75 to 80 pitches Thursday, and that a gradual increase in work on Sept. 26 at St. Louis should put him at full strength for the Cubs' regular-season finale against the Reds on Oct. 1.
"He looked very good," President Theo Epstein said after witnessing Arrieta's bullpen session. "He was mechanically sound, executed his pitches and didn't feel anything."
Epstein was hesitant to forecast the Cubs' postseason rotation or roster if they win the National League Central.
"It's inappropriate to talk about that right now," Epstein said. "We have a lot of work to do."
One curious question could be the status of John Lackey, who has been a starter exclusively throughout his career and hurt his shoulder after warming up during an extra-inning game in August 2016. Lackey is likely to make his next start Friday night against the Brewers.
Manager Joe Maddon quelled speculation regarding the possibility of Lackey pitching out of the bullpen, as Adam Wainwright of the Cardinals will do for the rest of the regular season and David Price might for the Red Sox.
"I don't see it, quite frankly, just the way Johnny goes about his work," Maddon said.
He added that the subject hasn't been raised but that "it's not impossible."
"He's throwing the ball very well right now," Maddon said. "The big thing (in the bullpen) is always resiliency and how long it takes someone to warm up."
