Chicago Cubs: Yu Darvish, Kris Bryant working toward respective returns

Both Yu Darvish and Kris Bryant are progressing toward their respective returns to the Chicago Cubs as the team chases another NL Central divison crown.

Returning home on Friday to take on the Washington Nationals, the Chicago Cubs continue to monitor the rehab process for multiple players.

Former National League MVP Kris Bryant is working back from lingering shoulder inflammation, Yu Darvish is looking to take the ball for the first time since May and Brandon Morrow – well, he’s the enigma here.

As Chicago hangs on to a narrow 1 1/2-game lead in the division, there’s little doubt fans are anxiously awaiting the return of all three men. Bryant, of course, represents the biggest shot in the arm for the team given the Cubs’ offensive performance lately. But don’t sleep on the impact someone like Darvish or Morrow could have down the stretch.

Chicago Cubs: Power-sapped Bryant on slow road back

Even before he hit the disabled list, Kris Bryant wasn’t having a terrible season. Although, you’d never know that by scrolling through social media.

The main issue with Bryant this year? An apparent lack of power. His 2018 slugging percentage is down nearly 50 points from his career average – and he hit just 11 home runs in 74 games. Of course, given he’s one of the team’s biggest impact bats, that left a big void in the heart of the order.

“It’s not fun at all,” Bryant said earlier this week. “It’s not fun at all. You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do to keep healthy and hope it never happens again.”

Personally, Bryant throwing doesn’t mean much to me. Why? Swinging a bat is what caused the shoulder to flare up earlier this season (on multiple instances). Until I know he can swing, I’m not expecting to see him back in the lineup for the better part of a month.

As for KB, he’s not putting any kind of timetable on his return. Worst-case scenario? He’s done for the year. But there’s nothing to indicate it’s that bad – at least not yet. Unfortunately, it’s just one of those ‘wait and see’ situations.

“I’m not going to get ahead of myself or put those types of scenarios in my head,” he said. “If you do hit the date when you think you could come back, then it’s like, ‘OK, that’s the way I thought.’ But if you don’t, then things get worse.”

Chicago Cubs: Is Yu Darvish finally turning a corner?

For all the flak Darvish has received this season, a great many people are watching his recovery very closely. Thankfully, deadline acquisition Cole Hamels has pitched extraordinarily well in his two outings, providing some stability for the rotation.

More from Cubbies Crib

• Cubs should keep close eye on non-tender candidate Cody Bellinger
• Cubs starting pitching has been thriving on the North Side
• Make no mistake: the Cubs are very much about power hitters
• Cubs are giving pitcher Javier Assad a deserved shot
• Cubs: It’s time to start thinking about potential September call-ups

As Jon Lester struggles to get back on-track, someone like Darvish could lengthen the rotation – and perhaps the pen. It stands to reason that if and when he makes his return to the Cubs, Mike Montgomery could head back to the bullpen. That gives Joe Maddon a quality long reliever from the left side – something the team currently lacks.

Darvish has thrown multiple times in the last week, giving us all cause for hope. Maddon was encouraged with what he saw in his most recent session on Wednesday.

“I thought he threw really well, easy, not affected in any way,” Maddon said. “I think he hit 93 [mph]. Good curveballs and cutter. He looked loose and free to me. I thought it was a really good day.”

Of course, Darvish has not pitched in a game since May 20. That’s hardly the first season he – or the team – had imagined when he inked a six-year, $126 million deal this winter. But if he can get back on the mound and turn in meaningful starts in September, all could, and likely would, be forgiven.