Cubs' Jake Arrieta (Thumb) Expects to Return From IL Vs. Tigers

Arrieta (thumb) expects minimum stint on IL originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

Cubs starter Jake Arrieta only expects to miss one start as he nurses a cut on his right thumb that put him on the injured list Tuesday.

“This for me is just a minor setback,” Arrieta said Wednesday.

Arrieta, 35, hit the 10-day injured list Tuesday due to the cut, which he said last Friday hampered his performance against Cincinnati. He allowed a season-high seven earned runs in 3 1/3 innings — his second shortest start in a Cubs uniform.

Arrieta said after that outing that he didn’t expect the cut to be an issue in his next start. But he tried throwing a bullpen on Monday and wasn’t able to apply the necessary pressure on his pitches.

“If I can't do that, there's really no sense in going out there,” he said.

The veteran right-hander said the cut has closed and the skin is starting to toughen up. That process entailed taking some of the callus off, which is why the skin has been sensitive on certain pitches, including his cutter and sinker.

“It’s one of those situations that stinks because you feel great, but you’ve got this damn cut on your thumb that’s preventing you from taking the mound,” he said.

With three off days Thursday and next Monday and Thursday, the Cubs want to be cautious and allow Arrieta’s thumb to heal. He said the plan is for him to throw a bullpen Thursday and he expects to return for next Friday’s series opener in Detroit. 

“I didn’t want to miss a start, but if I were to go out there [Wednesday] and reopen it or aggravate it further, then it sets us back to where we were several days ago,” he said.

"It’s the right way to go," he added. "Miss one and be back out there first game in Detroit."

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