PITTSBURGH -- Yu Darvish (right triceps tendinitis) will be returning to the mound to begin his Minor League rehab assignment on Sunday, Cubs manager Joe Maddon confirmed on Thursday.
Darvish threw on flat ground prior to Thursday night's game against the Pirates at PNC Park. Following the workout, he spoke with Maddon and delivered good news about his progress.
"I talked to him today, and he said he felt really good about pitching," Maddon said. "He's good to go on Sunday. He just told me that."
Darvish, who last pitched for the Cubs on May 20, threw about 55 pitches during a three-inning simulated game at Wrigley Field on Tuesday. His rehab assignment is scheduled to begin Sunday for Class A South Bend.
As for how many rehab starts Darvish will need, Maddon was not sure.
"Three would be the maximum, I would think," Maddon said. "I mean after three starts, you would think that he has it dialed in. You just evaluate each start."
Bryant returns to swinging
Third baseman Kristopher Bryant (left shoulder inflammation) continues to make progress as he's been hitting in the cage and off the tee.
"I've been doing it the last couple days, and it feels good," Bryant said. "It's nice to actually feel like a baseball player."
Bryant took ground balls on the field Tuesday. There is no timetable for his return, but Maddon said he is satisfied with Bryant's progression.
"I'm pleased that I'm not hearing anything bad," Maddon said. "I'm hearing progress; I'm hearing slow progress. Looking forward to the moment we can plug him back into the lineup, but I don't have any finish line kind of stuff with him either. But it's nothing negative, it's all been positive."