Davies to start Sunday; Duffy nearing rehab assignment
The Cubs are planning to start Zach Davies on the mound Sunday. It will be the first time this season they've used Davies and Kyle Hendricks, two relatively soft-throwing control pitchers, back-to-back against the same team.
Cubs manager David Ross originally told reporters Saturday that Alec Mills would start, but was corrected. It seems likely Mills will start a game in New York this week, with both Adbert Alzolay (blister) and Trevor Williams (appendectomy) on the injured list.
Before Saturday's game, Ross gave an update on some injured players, saying Matt Duffy (back) should be ready for a rehab assignment soon.
"I'd say Duffy is probably leading the group," Ross said. "David Bote (shoulder) took some light swings in the cage the other day, two-handed. Seemed to get really good feedback on that, seems to be doing good today. Nico (Horner, hamstring) the same, continues to work, strengthen. Timeline stuff is still TBD, but everybody's doing well."
... According to the Cubs, Anthony Rizzo's home run Friday on the 14th pitch of his at-bat against Daniel Ponce De Leon was the longest at-bat to result in a home run for the Cubs since at least 1988. It was the longest in the majors since 2012, when Milwaukee's Ryan Braun hit one on the 14th pitch against Houston.
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