March 26--One day after expressing some concern, manager Joe Maddon expressed more optimism that ace Jake Arrieta would stay on a normal scheduled that would lead him to pitch the April 4 opener against the Los Angeles Angels.
"As of right now, it seems to be pretty good," Maddon said Saturday morning. Arrieta, the 2015 National League Cy Young Award winner, is recovering from a blister on his thumb on his right pitching hand. Arrieta was limited to only 34 pitches Thursday but will throw a bullpen session Sunday morning and will pitch Tuesday against the Oakland Athletics in his final spring start.
"(Trainer) P.J. Mainville feels very strongly that's he'll be fine," Maddon said. "He thought it was a lot better immediately the next day. So let's just see what happens.
"When it originally happened, we didn't jump to any conclusions. Just play it all the way through."
In other injury news, Maddon said there are no long-term concerns regarding the left thumb of utility player Javier Baez.
"It might be a short-term concern when he's able to get out there again," Maddon said of Baez, who hasn't played since Sunday. "As of now, I haven't heard anything negative in a long-term sense."
If Baez's hand doesn't heal in time for opening day, Munenori Kawasaki is looming as an option.
"He's done a nice job, offensively and defensively," Maddon said. "You saw the bunt (Friday), the way he runs the bases. He's done a lot of good things.
"Everyone looks at him as this fun guy who does crazy things. He's a good baseball player."
