Joe Maddon passed on good news in regards to the blister on Jake Arrieta’s right thumb.
Jake Arrieta expected to throw a bullpen session on Saturday. Arrieta will throw his side on Sunday instead. Maddon said Saturday that Arrieta is on schedule to make his last spring start on Tuesday against the A’s at Sloan Park.
According to the Tribune, Maddon was more optimistic on Saturday about Arrieta starting on Opening Day than he was Friday.
The Cubs received a positive update from trainer P.J. Mainville, who “feels very strongly that he’ll be fine” and ready for the first game of the season.
Arrieta will throw a bullpen session on Sunday morning. If all goes as the Cubs think it will, he will start Tuesday.
The Cubs will have a better idea after Tuesday’s Cactus League start if he will be able to pitch on Opening Night, April 4 in Anaheim.
Maddon told the beat writers, “Let’s just see what happens. Don’t jump to any conclusions.”
One thing to keep an eye on, if the Cubs move Arrieta’s outing on Tuesday to a minor league start and it turns out he is not ready for Opening Day, the team can backdate a DL stint which would limit the starts he misses at the beginning of the season.