LOS ANGELES -- The last time Yu Darvish threw off a mound at Dodger Stadium was last June, when a bullpen session revealed persistent soreness in his right elbow and led to the Cubs shutting him down. The last time Darvish pitched in a game at the ballpark, he took the loss for the Dodgers in Game 7 of the World Series against the Astros.

Darvish is looking forward to turning the page on that history on Saturday night.

"I think he's going to come out here with a different mindset," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "I think a lot of that's going to be in his rear-view mirror, I do. He'll admit to the fact that there's going to be hurdles to get over for him -- I get that. But, I think he's been better at putting things in the rear-view mirror more recently."

Darvish is slated to take the mound against the Dodgers, opposite Walker Buehler, in Saturday's 8:10 p.m. CT clash at Dodger Stadium. The pitcher said he is expecting to hear some boos from the Los Angeles crowd, given the way the end of the 2017 season unfolded for him and the Dodgers.

L.A. traded for Darvish at the July 31 Trade Deadline that summer and the right-hander made nine starts down the stretch, posting a 3.44 ERA in those outings. He defeated the Cubs in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series, but then he lost a pair of games in the World Series. Combined, Darvish allowed nine runs (eight earned) in just 3 1/3 innings between Game 3 and Game 7 in the Fall Classic.

"That was tough, especially for me," Darvish said. "It was just tough."

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts knows that the fans will remember those final games more than anything when it comes to Darvish, who signed a six-year, $126 million deal with the Cubs the following winter.

"I thought he had some really good moments with us," Roberts said. "People want to reference Game 7 a lot, which was unfortunate for all of us. Whether it's certain things he's got to get past coming to Dodger Stadium, I'm not sure what's in his mind. We like him, but we'll be ready. For him, I think it’s a personal thing. I know he loved his time in L.A. with the Dodgers and the fans.

"I think it’s more of Game 7 didn't go well for any of us. I think that’s his cross to bear a little bit."

Maddon likened the upcoming start to Darvish's May 20 meeting with Phillies pitcher Jake Arrieta. During the offseason before the 2018 campaign, Chicago signed Darvish and let Arrieta leave via free agency. Since then, many Cubs fans have linked the two pitchers given those circumstances, which include Darvish being limited to eight games last year due to arm issues.

Darvish admitted before that matchup in May that it was an important outing for him, and the righty responded with a quality start. Maddon said that was a "significant" moment for Darvish.

"He talked about Jake," Maddon said, "and how when he had to face Jake head to head, how he overcame that. He's been pitching well."

Kimbrel's next step

Closer Craig Kimbrel is scheduled to throw live batting practice on Saturday, marking his second time facing hitters since signing a multiyear contract with the Cubs on June 7. Barring any setbacks, Kimbrel would then be on target for joining Triple-A Iowa to get a handful of Minor League appearances before being summoned to Chicago.

The Cubs have not announced a firm schedule for Kimbrel -- technically optioned to Triple-A last week to buy him time for this build-up program -- but the righty might be able to join Iowa in Sacramento for a game on Monday or Tuesday. While things could change, expect Kimbrel to log around five Minor League games (including back-to-back appearances) before joining the Cubs.

Worth noting

• Prior to Friday's game in L.A., Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant was shown a quote by White Sox pitcher Dylan Covey. Per a tweet from MLB.com's Scott Merkin, Covey had this to say about the upcoming series between the Sox and Cubs at Wrigley Field: "We definitely want to beat them, no doubt, every single time."

"I didn't even know we played them next week," said Bryant, eliciting laughter from reporters. "I'm just focused on what we have today."

Full disclosure: Bryant and Covey were roommates and teammates at the University of San Diego, and remain good friends.

• Starter Kyle Hendricks was slotted into the eighth spot of the Cubs' lineup on Friday, marking the sixth game in a row that Maddon put the pitcher in the No. 8 hole. The manager has taken that approach 10 times overall this season and said he plans on sticking with it for now, especially with Kyle Schwarber and Bryant occupying the Nos. 1-2 spots.

• Maddon said that Jon Lester (hit on the left foot by a comebacker on Thursday), Cole Hamels (hit on the right ankle by a pitch on Wednesday) and Steve Cishek (hit on the right knee by a ball while playing catch Wednesday) are all doing fine. Cishek is available out of the bullpen.