MESA, Ariz. – Right-hander Jake Arrieta will make his first start of the spring on Sunday against the Diamondbacks, manager David Ross announced on Friday.
The Cubs have taken a slower approach with Arrieta as he tries to make adjustments to fix some of the things that plagued him during his time in Philadelphia.
Ross has stated this spring that he still expects the longtime Cubs’ ace to be near the top of the team’s rotation this season.
“I think for him, I think some of the fixes are gonna take a little while,” Ross said. “You got to get back to being able to compete and still not falling into patterns or bad habits. But I think he’s excited to get back on the bump and show what he can do and continue to get back to who he thinks he can be and who we think he can be.”
Arrieta dealt with various injuries during his three seasons with the Phillies and now that he’s healthy this spring, getting back on track mechanically has been a point of emphasis.
“Sometimes mechanically with injuries you get off track,” Ross said. “And don’t even realize you’ve done some things. I think that talking to Jake, some mechanical stuff that we noticed is like, ‘Oh, that would make sense, because this was hurting and every time I did this, I would have pain and so I must have automatically kind of adjusted that to pitch without pain.’”
Marisnick dealing with ‘minor’ calf injury
Center fielder Jake Marisnick is dealing with a calf injury that has kept him from game action so far this spring. Marisnick is expected to be the Cubs’ fourth outfielder this season. The 29-year-old outfielder is coming off a difficult season health-wise, playing just 16 games dealing with a left hamstring injury.
“Just trying to take it slow and make sure,” Ross said. “I think the hamstring that popped up in New York was something that he ignored and kept pushing it and it got pretty bad. He wants and we want to make sure he’s 100% when he steps out there. So just a little bit precaution early on, but he’s feeling good and I think he’s gonna run the bases today and tomorrow.”
Competition breeds success
“I’m not making the decision, so all I can do is go out there and pitch. I think competition can only breed success if everybody’s fighting for, whatever you want to say, one or two spots. But I think it’s only gonna make everybody better. I think we’re fighting against each other [and] as long as it’s something where it’s all for the [good] of the team, it’s gonna make everybody better. –Alec Mills on fifth-starter competition
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