In between innings of a irritating begin Saturday, right-hander Yu Darvish sat subsequent to teammate Anthony Rizzo within the Cubs’ dugout.
He turned to the primary baseman and requested what he was doing incorrect and how you can repair it, Darvish advised Japanese media after the sport.
“You have to get hungry,” Rizzo mentioned.
At which level, Darvish took the mound within the fifth inning and retired the aspect, placing out the final two batters he confronted.
Whether Rizzo’s recommendation sticks with Darvish for the remainder of the season is unsure. But at the very least it did sufficient to assist him shut out the ultimate inning of his begin within the Cubs’ 6-Zero loss to the Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field.
Darvish’s 13th begin as a Cub was one other dip on the curler coaster for the big-money pitcher. He has admitted that he usually overthinks whereas he’s on the mound.
“I feel like his confidence is something he’s going to have to keep building on for himself, and every game is different,” outfielder Jason Heyward mentioned. “Today, I guess you could say was a step back or whatever. The last start was pretty good, and the next start I know he’s going to come out and try to be hungry again.”
On a day that started with encouraging information on ace Jon Lester, the Cubs had their four-game successful streak snapped and a streak of three consecutive scoreless begins finish. The final starter to surrender a run was Darvish on Monday in a win over the Marlins.
Darvish allowed back-to-back residence runs within the first inning after which threw eight straight balls to start out the second. That’s the sort of day it was Darvish, who acquired higher during the last three innings in an 88-pitch outing.
“My first couple of innings, I was struggling with command,” Darvish mentioned. “I have to be more aggressive with hitters. The fifth inning was really good, so it’s great for next start.”
Darvish’s flat outing occurred simply hours after the Cubs obtained excellent news for the rotation. Lester, who has been on the injured listing since April 9 with a good left hamstring, threw 45 pitches in a simulated recreation Saturday morning at Wrigley Field. Manager Joe Maddon was inspired by the throwing session and thought Lester seemed excellent.
The Cubs’ subsequent step with Lester is to see how he feels Sunday. And although the Cubs haven’t set his timeline but, Maddon didn’t rule out the left-hander returning for the Dodgers sequence subsequent week.
The Cubs’ rotation has proven indicators of enchancment with out Lester. Since he went down, the starters have a mixed 1.89 ERA in 9 outings.
“They’ve gotten really sharp,” Maddon mentioned. “It’s what they’re capable of. Maybe you just have to get kicked in the pants a little bit. This is what we could look like as a pitching staff.”
For the rotation to maintain that stage of success, it doubtless should embody a extra constant Darvish.
“When I go there, I can get more confident,” mentioned Darvish, who nonetheless hasn’t made it out of the sixth inning this season on the heels of the worst yr of his profession. “So I want to throw six or seven innings.”