Jake report: Arrieta starts Sunday, Marisnick slowed by calf originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Mark your calendars, Cubs fans. Jake Arrieta's second team debut is coming.
Manager David Ross said Friday Arrieta will make his first start of spring training on Sunday, when the Cubs play Diamondbacks on the road.
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Arrieta, 35 on Saturday, rejoined the Cubs last month on a one-year deal after three seasons with the Phillies. The right-hander, who threw live batting practice on Thursday, has been working on mechanical adjustments in camp in the early parts of camp.
“When you’re a veteran guy and you’re coming into camp, especially back to a familiar place," Ross said, "[it's about] getting settled in and getting back to where he’s comfortable in his mechanics and identifying where some things could have gotten off for him."
Arrieta had three up-and-down seasons with the Phillies in which he dealt with injuries, which he recently noted caused unintentional variations in his mechanics. The right-hander pitched with a torn left meniscus in 2018 and a bone spur in his right elbow in 2019, which required season-ending surgery that August.
"It’s been a good process I think for him," Ross said of Arrieta's work this spring. "I think some of the fixes are going to take a little while. You’ve got to get back to being able to compete and still not fall into patterns of bad habits.
"I think he’s excited to get back on the bump and show what he can do and continue to get back to who he thinks he can be and who we think he can be."
Marisnick slowed by calf
Outfielder Jake Marisnick, who has not played in the team's first five spring games, is dealing with a minor calf ailment, Ross said.
Marisnick, signed to a one-year deal last month, is scheduled to run the bases in the next few days. However, the club is exercising precaution with the 29-year-old.
"We want to make sure he’s 100 percent when he steps out there, so just a little bit of precaution early on," Ross said. "He’s feeling good. He's coming."
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