MESA, Ariz. -- What can the opposition in the National League expect when they face the Chicago Cubs' newest star pitcher? Yu Darvish's current teammates know all too well how Darvish can tie up a hitter after he shut them down in the NLCS last fall. Pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers at the time, Darvish struck out seven in 6 1/3 innings in a 6-1 victory in Game 3. The Dodgers went on to win the series, 4-1, while Darvish opted to move on and sign with his former opponents.
The right-hander has a total of five games pitched in his career against the NL Central -- none against the St.