The Yu Darvish saga took another turn, this time south as the Cubs starter traveled to Dallas to get a second opinion on his ailing right arm.
Darvish met with Rangers team physician Keith Meister, who has worked with Darvish before, and it was determined that he has an impingement and inflammation in his elbow. Darvish received a cortisone shot Friday and will be re-evaluated in three to five days. He won’t throw during that time.
The Cubs are considering it good news after things didn’t go well during a bullpen session Thursday in Los Angeles. Darvish has been sidelined since late May with what was first diagnosed as tendinitis in his triceps. He pitched five innings for Class A South Bend on Monday but said afterward that he didn’t feel right.
On Thursday, it was apparent that Darvish was still bothered by the injury, according to Chris Gimenez, who caught the session.
“You could tell he wasn’t feeling the greatest,” Gimenez said before the Cubs topped the Twins 10-6 at Wrigley Field. “I give him credit for trying to explore those options of kind of working through it. The main thing is to get him back healthy. That’s Priority No. 1.”
Gimenez said he spoke with Darvish.
“I think he’s just a little frustrated, to be honest with you,” Gimenez said. “And rightfully so. I know he wants to get himself back out here.”
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For now, the Cubs are prepared to forge ahead without Darvish, who signed a six-year, $126 million contract in February.
“We’d love to have him out there pitching, there’s no question,” manager Joe Maddon said. “But it’s not going to happen, and I don’t know exactly when it’s going to happen. In the meantime, you play the cards that you have.
“It’s a long season. Obviously, he hasn’t used up a whole lot of innings at this point. Hopefully, he gets it right and then can be very strong for us in the second half and down the stretch.”
More injury news
Third baseman Kris Bryant, on the 10-day disabled list with inflammation in his left shoulder, was scheduled to hit in the cage and take grounders Friday.
“ ‘KB’ is feeling a lot better,” Maddon said.
Bryant is expected to return to the Cubs’ lineup when he’s eligible to come off the DL on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, right-hander Carl Edwards Jr. (right shoulder inflammation) was scheduled to make a rehab appearance at Class AAA Iowa on Friday, and right-hander Eddie Butler (groin strain) was to make one Saturday.
Next up
Tyler Chatwood is back with the Cubs after being activated from the paternity list. He’s scheduled to start Saturday against the Twins.
“I was able to come in here a couple of days and throw a bullpen,” Chatwood said. “I feel good and ready to go.”
More baby news
Infielder Javy Baez wasn’t in the starting lineup after his fiancée, Irmarie Marquez, gave birth to a boy Thursday.
Nice tribute
Before the game, the Cubs showed a video and held a moment of silence for longtime clubhouse attendant Yosh Kawano, who died Monday at 97.