Montgomery to start series opener for Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs have settled on left-hander Mike Montgomery as their starting pitcher for the Memorial Day afternoon game at Pittsburgh, while Yu Darvish will have an MRI on Tuesday.
Darvish was scratched from Sunday night's scheduled start and put on the 10-day disabled list Saturday because of right-biceps tendinitis.
The Cubs could have brought a pitcher up from the minor leagues to face the Pirates, but they chose Montgomery.
"Part of what we talked about with him in spring training was that we really felt that he was going to get X-number of starts by the season's end," manager Joe Maddon said. "So here came this opportunity tomorrow. Plus, they've got some really good left-handed hitters with the Pirates.
"So it kind of matches up well. We thought that based on conversations … he's had that one bad outing the last time, but he's overall been throwing the ball extremely well. Let's just put him out there and see how it plays."
It has been a rough to start to Darvish's Cubs career after he signed a six-year, $126 million deal at the start of spring training. He is 1-3 with a 4.95 ERA and has been on the DL twice.
Maddon said he talked with Darvish a couple of days ago and described him as "distraught."
"Listen, whatever it takes, get him back on the right track," Maddon said. "I've had a lot of wonderful conversations with him. A couple days ago I had another one. It's incumbent upon me, I think, to really know and understand and try to be as much help to him as I possibly can along with Hick (pitching coach Jim Hickey) and everybody else.
"But as being the manager, I need to find that right combination of words and actions to really help him move it along as he gets well. I really immerse myself in those thoughts and actions. It started in spring training - really likable, bright fellow, and he is all of that. I just hope that I'm able to be of assistance in some way."
Darvish underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in 2015. The Cubs say they're using the MRI as a precautionary procedure.
Not able to go:
Switch hitter Ian Happ originally was scheduled to be in Sunday night's starting lineup against Giants lefty Ty Blach, but Happ jarred his shoulder diving for a flyball in center field Saturday night.
So Maddon went with left-handed hitter Kyle Schwarber in left field and lefty Jason Heyward in right. Switch hitter Ben Zobrist was being held back for the Monday afternoon game at Pittsburgh.
Run on him with caution:
Kyle Schwarber entered Sunday with 4 outfield assists, That tied him for third most in the National League.
"He's always had the decent arm, but his footwork has gotten so much better, and the arm strength seems to have gotten better, too," Joe Maddon said. "Everything he did in the off-season is playing into these throws right now. So give him credit. He's always had arm strength, but it's really at an all-time high right now."