MIAMI _ Despite Yu Darvish's billing as the top free-agent pitcher last winter, manager Joe Maddon didn't believe it was necessary to name him the Cubs' Opening Day starter.
"I didn't want to apply too much (pressure on) Yu," Maddon said Frriday on the eve of Darvish's Cubs debut. "If we did not have the other guys in house, it probably would have pushed Yu to the beginning. We have five guys capable of being Opening Day starters."
Nevertheless, Darvish will be in the spotlight starting Saturday night against a Marlins team that he has faced only twice in his seven-year career.
"I've thrown enough games (so) I can adjust to any team now," Darvish said. 'There's nothing in particular from the past."
Darvish, who signed a six-year, $126 million contract with the Cubs in February, threw his only career shutout against the Marlins in 2014 for the Rangers, but he allowed a career-high 10 runs against them in his final start for the Rangers last July before being traded to the Dodgers.
