Phillies’ Arrieta to face former Cubs team for first time

Jake Arrieta had his most successful seasons when he was with the Chicago Cubs from 2013-17.

The right-hander will face them for the first time when he takes the mound for the visiting Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a four-game series on Monday night at Wrigley Field.

Arrieta (4-4, 4.02 ERA) won the National League Cy Young Award with Chicago in 2015 and was an All-Star with the Cubs in 2016, helping them win their first World Series title in 108 years. He threw no-hitters in each of those seasons, as well.

But the Cubs didn’t make an effort to re-sign Arrieta after the 2017 season and the 10-year major league veteran signed a three-year, $75 million deal with the Phillies instead.

Chicago used some of that money to sign right-hander Yu Darvish to a six-year, $126 million deal, and he’ll oppose Arrieta in the series opener. “He’s a legend in Chicago, for sure,” Darvish told reporters of Arrieta. “I respect that, and I’m really looking forward to facing him.”

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Darvish (2-3, 5.14) has struggled with control issues this season, walking at least four batters in six of nine starts.

The four-time AL All Star with the Texas Rangers seemed to find some answers in his last outing, however, striking out 11 and walking none over 5 1/3 innings against the visiting Cincinnati Reds. He gave up two runs and five hits in the 6-5 loss, but didn’t receive a decision for the third straight start.

Arrieta got off to a solid start this season and was 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA after four outings, but has dropped his past two starts and is winless since April 27. The Phillies are coming off a three-game sweep of the visiting Colorado Rockies and will be trying to win four games in a row for the first time since starting 4-0. They can also climb nine games over .500 for the first time this season.

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