CINCINNATI – Bring on Jake Arrieta.
After what he called his best start of the season Wednesday night in Cincinnati, enigmatic Cubs starter Yu Darvish gets the best test yet of his rediscovered command and focus in his next start Monday against the Phillies.
“He’s a legend in Chicago for sure,” Darvish said of former Cubs ace Arrieta – who starts for the Phillies against Darvish and the Cubs on Monday at Wrigley Field.
“I respect that. And I’m really looking forward to facing him.”
Starts like Wednesday’s have been rare for Darvish since he signed his $126 million free- agent deal with the Cubs 15 months ago — fueling the pro-Arrieta crowd that clamored for the Cubs to pursue the 2015 Cy Young winner and 2016 World Series hero instead during that winter.