Yu Darvish threw a few simulated innings and about 50 actual pitches today at Wrigley Field as he rehabs from his triceps injury.
Darvish throwing his sim game. #Cubs pic.twitter.com/2EwIKBjkpE
— Phil Barnes (@pbarnesVL) June 20, 2018
Good sign for #Cubs as Yu Darvish throws a SIM game at Wrigley. Detail to follow, but I’ve heard some “that’a boys” from Gimenez behind the plate. pic.twitter.com/O2PU5oFhiZ
— Kelly Crull (@Kelly_Crull) June 20, 2018
After the outing, Darvish addressed the media, and was extremely optimistic about his timeline for a return, assuming he feels OK tomorrow after this outing:
Hoyer says if Darvish fares well overnight could be ready to go on rehab assignment Monday. How many rehab starts will he need? "One," Darvish said.
— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) June 20, 2018
Darvish said he will only need one minor league rehab start to be ready to come back
— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) June 20, 2018
Obviously we still have to see how he feels tomorrow, and then how he comes out of his rehab start, but *IF* he pitches on Monday (South Bend is at home), and *IF* he needs only one rehab start, then he could be back with the big league team as soon as next weekend’s series against the Twins, and would make multiple starts before the All-Star break. Recall, there were previously concerns he might not make it back before the break for even a single start.
So, then, fingers crossed for how he feels tomorrow, and that this process keeps moving smoothly along.
UPDATE: Well, the Cubs may be pulling back the reins on the initial excitement:
#Cubs will evaluate how Darvish feels on Thursday before announcing next step. Darvish most likely will throw another sim game. Yu thought he only needed one rehab start
— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) June 20, 2018