Jake Arrieta will make ’14 debut vs Cardinals

Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Due to Monday’s postponed game, Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jake Arrieta will make his 2014 debut on Saturday at Wrigley Field against the St. Louis Cardinals, reports MLB.com’s Alyson Footer.

Arrieta was scheduled to start Wednesday in Cincinnati, but the postponement and the scheduled off-day Thursday, pushed back his return to the second game of the three-game set with the Cardinals. He will throw another bullpen session Wednesday on the day he was originally suppose to take the mound.

The right-hander’s return will push Carlos Villanueva to the bullpen. Villanueva, 30, went 1-5, struck out 14 and walked two, gave up 22 earned runs for a 10.42 ERA over 19 innings.

The 28-year-old, made five minor league rehab starts between Single-A Advanced Dayton and Double-A after he suffered from a sore right shoulder at the end of spring training. IN five starts he went 1-1 with a 2.25 REA, struck out 18 and walked seven, over 20 innings.

Arrieta went 4-2 with a 3.66 ERA, struck out 37 and walked 24, in nine starts last season for the Cubs after he was acquired in July with Pedro Strop for Scott Feldman and Steve Clevenger from the Baltimore Orioles.

Arrieta was originally drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 31st round of the MLB 2004 Draft while attending Weatherford College, but transferred to Texas Christian University before he was selected by the Orioles in the fifth round of the 2007 MLB Draft.

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