It hasn’t been a smooth comeback for Yu Darvish since suffering a setback in June, a month after he was placed on the disabled list with a triceps injury. Yet, his return to the Cubs is getting closer, as Darvish has taken another positive step in his rehab.
Darvish threw 35 pitches in a bullpen session on Tuesday in Pittsburgh, a few days after he made an adjustment in his delivery in St. Louis, where he said he felt pain at first. It’s all positive on the Darvish news now.
Darvish threw 35 pitches in pen. All pitches. Said first time in process he felt no pain or discomfort. "I'm really excited."
— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) July 31, 2018
Step in the right direction: Yu Darvish, through a translator, says today was the first time in two months that he felt "nothing" in his right elbow from the first warm-up throw to the last pitch in his bullpen session.
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) July 31, 2018
On Tuesday morning Cubs’ pitching Jim Hickey followed up with another positive development, saying Darvish will throw in a simulated game sometime in the next few days.
Yu Darvish's next step is to throw a simulated game, likely in two or three days, Jim Hickey says. After that, he'll probably throw one more simulated game and then rehab start(s) begin to come into play.
— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) August 1, 2018
So, when you take into account the two simulated games and possibly two or three rehab starts and hopefully with no more setbacks, Darvish could be back as soon as Aug. 28, when the Cubs play against the New York Mets.
Of course, the team could just wait and would make it easier with the rosters expanding, until Sept. 1, to bring back Darvish. Again, the biggest thing is for Darvish to be healthy, get back in time to get a full month before the playoffs and if everything goes well, he’ll be a part of a deep postseason run with the Cubs.
Going back to Darvish’s return, Mike Montgomery would be moved back to the bullpen and hopefully that will get him back on track, as he’s been a little rocky during that last month after doing an incredible job filling in for Darvish in the rotation.
So, if all goes well in the next two simulated games for Darvish, he should be heading out for his rehab starts on Aug. 11 or 12, and if all goes according to plan he could be back with the Cubs two weeks after or at the latest Sept. 1.
