Yu Darvish Still Dominating Spring Training, Cubs Offense Lights Up Mariners

Yu Darvish didn’t start against the Mariners Friday night and he missed an offensive explosion, but the Cubs right-hander was able to relax after pitching four scoreless innings in a simulated game earlier in the day. Darvish struck out three, walked one and gave up a hit against some Cubs minor leaguers.

Darvish – 4 innings 1 hit – 1 walk – 3 K
— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) March 8, 2019

That was Darvish’s third spring training outing, following starts against the Diamondbacks and White Sox.

After pitching on Friday, Darvish was his jovial self, adding his sense of humor to some questions. On getting a chance to possibly face his former team, the Rangers, Darvish jokingly said this.

🔥 Subscribe to the Untold Chicago YouTube channel to hear Chicago legends tell stories you’ve never seen in headlines — real moments, real experiences, straight from the athletes themselves.

Yu Darvish, smiling and laughing after today's simulated game, says he would like to face the Rangers during the season-opening series in Texas: "I want to hit a couple guys. Gallo and Odor."
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) March 8, 2019

You can’t say this enough about Darvish. After a terrible first year with the Cubs, marred with his elbow injury, Darvish really does have a brand new vibe around him. The new comfort level in his second year with the Cubs is translating to more confidence on the mound and it obviously helps that he’s healthy now too.

Joe Maddon on Yu Darvish: "He’s been almost a different person this year. Definitely the self-confidence level seems to be soaring a bit right now. I just think the familiarity with the whole group matters to him. Plus he’s healthy."
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) March 8, 2019

Hopefully that confidence leads to great results for several years to come and those boos turn into Yuuuus at Wrigley Field.

Darvish when asked if he can picture what it would be like to pitch well at Wrigley. “I don’t want ‘boo’ anymore. I want ‘Yu.’ “
— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) March 8, 2019

Last year was obviously bad for Darvish, but it was particularly awful in three home starts. He gave up nine earned runs in 15 innings at Wrigley Field.

So yeah, let’s hope the boos disappear.

As for Friday night’s game against the Mariners, the Cubs offense lit up lefty Marco Gonzales, pounding 12 hits against him in 3.2 innings. All nine runs scored by the Cubs in their 9-3 win were charged to Gonzales, as they exploded for six runs in the fourth inning.

The highlight of the night was Anthony Rizzo’s first spring training home run, a moonshot to right field in the third inning.

Things you love to see. #EverybodyIn pic.twitter.com/xL438diBw3
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) March 9, 2019

Rizzo went 3-for-3 against Gonzales, David Bote also went 3-for-3 and added a walk while Albert Almora Jr. and Javier Baez tallied two hits apiece as well.

By the way, right-handed reliever Allen Webster pitched two more scoreless innings and struck out three batters. He’s one guy who could possibly replace Brandon Kintzler if the Cubs decide to cut ties with Kintzler this spring.