Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jake Arrieta is dealing with a blister on his right throwing hand leading up to Opening Day, per Carrie Muskat of MLB.com.
Continue for updates.
Arrieta Comments on Blister
Friday, March 25
"It's good, we're good," Arrieta said, per Bruce Levine of WSCR-AM. "No one's dying."
“It really won’t be a problem at all,” Arrieta noted, according to Muskat. “It really wasn’t even a blister. From the environment here, the skin, having to deal with dry skin, cracking all that stuff, it’s just managing it. Once we get out of Arizona, it’ll no longer be an issue at all.”
"[We] noticed in the bullpen I was having a hard time with it," Arrieta added, per Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com. "No point in staying out there and having the same thing happen over and over again to each hitter."
Maddon Comments on Arrieta Blister
Thursday, March 24
"We don't want to lose him, we don't want to miss him, but I don't think it's anything awful," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said, per Muskat.
Arrieta Developed Into League's Best Pitcher in 2015
Arrieta got off to a rocky start in his MLB career with the Baltimore Orioles before coming to Chicago and lighting it up over the past two years. The 30-year-old veteran has a tale of resilience that can leave quite an impression on a Cubs clubhouse filled with supremely talented youngsters.
Arrieta posted a 22-6 record and a 1.77 ERA last season to help the Cubs to the National League Championship Series. In his first two playoff starts, Arrieta defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in a complete-game shutout and won his next time out against the St. Louis Cardinals.
There's little cause for concern regarding Arrieta's long-term outlook in what figures to be a rather insignificant injury. His troubles in Baltimore stemmed from injuries and control problems, which have seldom surfaced with the exception of Thursday, when again, he was dealing with a mere blister.
Shoulder tightness loomed before the 2014 campaign for Arrieta, but he wound up fine en route to a 10-5 record with a 2.53 ERA. He's been quite durable since arriving in the Windy City, so there's no reason to press him back into action.
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