Cubs to closely watch, manage Yu Darvish’s workload down the stretch

Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish declined to talk to reporters before the game Monday about the forearm tightness that caused him to miss Sunday’s start.

But team officials say the right-hander, who has been a workhorse for the rotation this season, still is expected to take the mound Saturday in Milwaukee.

But consider it just one more hurdle to clear for the Cubs down the stretch, and one more reason — even in a best-case scenario — to limit Darvish’s workload the rest of the way.

He’s 5-6 with a 4.25 ERA — 2.93 in nine starts since the All-Star break.

The team called the decision Sunday “precautionary,” even as pitching coach Tommy Hottovy acknowledged the location of Darvish’s soreness makes it a “little bit scarier” than some other areas of the arm or body.

Regardless of the severity, it at least underscores a seasonlong concern over Darvish’s workload after a 2018 season limited to 40 innings by elbow problems. He is tied with Jose Quintana for the team lead with 152⅓ innings pitched this season.

“The fact that we have been concerned about the number of innings pitched from last year to this year jumping so dramatically, Tommy and I have been talking about that all year,” manager Joe Maddon said. “When you make dramatic jumps, you’re always concerned, maybe not even about this year, but about next year.

“But he’s done it before. That’s still in the back of your mind. He’s thrown the requisite number of innings in the past, so that’s helpful to know”

Counting the postseason, Darvish threw 201⅔ innings in 2017, his first full season back from Tommy John surgery.

“For right now, we’ll just get him out there again hopefully this weekend and take it from there,” Maddon said.