And here comes Jake Arrieta.
Jake Arrieta says he's starting on Wed here in Cincinnati.
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) April 28, 2014
Arrieta believes he'll start Wednesday night at Cincy
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) April 28, 2014
The updating confirmation:
Renteria confirms Arrieta will start Wednesday
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) April 28, 2014
This morning I wondered openly whether the Cubs would consider letting Jake Arrieta make his season debut on “short” rest, given that his final rehab outing went just 44 pitches. Wednesday would give him four days of rest, and, obviously that’s when Carlos Villanueva’s next start comes up in the rotation. You’ll recall that, about a week and a half ago, the Cubs rejiggered the rotation such that Villanueva and Arrieta would be making starts just one day apart. And then the Cubs gave Arrieta an additional, short rehab start. Perhaps they were holding open this possibility – assuming Arrieta’s body responded well – all along?
Villanueva hasn’t been lighting the world on fire out of the rotation, and Arrieta possesses impressive stuff and the theoretically ability to pitch his way into a long-term job with the Cubs. Fans, then, will likely be excited to see his return. Villanueva could move back to the bullpen as soon as tonight, and then the Cubs will have to send a reliever back to the minors (or let someone go, I suppose) on Wednesday. I tend to think, at this point, Villanueva’s stuff might play better in the pen.
Arrieta was slowed in Spring Training by a stiff shoulder, and essentially just completed his version of the “fake games” portion of Spring Training by way of minor league rehab starts. It’ll be good to get another look at him. That the Cubs are ready to send him out there, even on short-ish rest, is probably a good sign as far as how he’s been looking so far.