The Texas Rangers today announced that right-handed pitcher Yu Darvish is expected to be activated from the 15-day disabled on Saturday and start that day against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
 
Darvish threw a bullpen session today in Arlington in preparation for that start. He has been on the disabled list since June 13 (retroactive to June 9) with right shoulder discomfort. Darvish made a pair of rehab starts for Double-A Frisco on July 4 at Northwest Arkansas (2.0+ IP, 2 H, 3 R-ER, 3 BB, 5 SO, 42 pitches) and July 10 vs. Northwest Arkansas (5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R-ER, 1 BB, 5 SO, 1 HR, 72 pitches) during his DL stint.
 
Darvish is 2-0 with a 2.87 ERA in 3 starts with Texas this season. He opened the year on the disabled list as he continued to rehab from March 2015 Tommy John surgery on his right elbow before being activated on May 28. His last outing was a no decision on June 8 vs. Houston (5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R-ER, 4 BB, 7 SO, 1 HR).   
 
The probables for the Rangers-Cubs series in Chicago:
 
Friday (1:20 p.m.)-LHP Martin Perez (7-5, 3.85) vs. RHP Kyle Hendricks (7-6, 2.55)
Saturday (1:20 p.m.)-RHP Yu Darvish (2-0, 2.87) vs. RHP Jason Hammel (7-5, 3.46)
Sunday (1:20 p.m.)-LHP Cole Hamels (9-2, 3.21) vs. RHP John Lackey (7-5, 3.70)