4 takeaways from Chicago Cubs camp, including Yu Darvish’s fingernail issue and the team handling veteran Jon Lester with care

Here are four takeaways from Chicago Cubs summer training camp Thursday at Wrigley Field:

1. Yu Darvish provides a brief scare in an intrasquad game.

Darvish has dealt with blisters on his right pitching hand in the past, and he required brief medical attention after throwing a pitch to Steven Souza Jr. with two outs in the second inning of an intrasquad game.

After inspecting a nail on his right index finger, Darvish convinced trainer PJ Mainville and pitching coach Tommy Hottovy he was OK and finished the inning by inducing Souza to pop to third.

Darvish allowed one hit — a single to David Bote to start to the third — while striking out two and walking none in a 3 1/4 u2153-inning, 44-pitch outing.

First baseman Anthony Rizzo suited up but didn’t play for the third consecutive day because of lower back stiffness.

Kyle Hendricks struck out the first four batters and worked out of a jam in the third before allowing an opposite-field home run to Kyle Schwarber to open the fourth. Hendricks threw 60 pitches in four innings.

Willson Contreras and Josh Phegley each hit home runs.

Before the game, Hottovy elaborated on the recovery of pitchers after one week as the biggest priority right now. Hottovy would like to get relievers throwing three times a week in a combination of bullpen sessions and intrasquad games to see how their arms fare and whether they might need an extra day to recover.

“We have the flexibility,” Hottovy said.

2. The Cubs are handling Jon Lester with care.

The Cubs are taking extra care of Lester, 36, who threw batting practice Wednesday and is scheduled to pitch in a simulated game Sunday with the anticipation of pitching every fifth day after that.

“I thought for the first time it was a lot of good things to take away,” Hottovy said. “He was really pleased with how he threw (and) also how his body is recovered.”

3. Reliever Kyle Ryan might not need much catching up.

Reliever Kyle Ryan, whose arrival was delayed by “protocol technicalities,” might not need to accelerate his program once he clears COVID-19 testing.

“With the expanded rosters, hopefully we get to a point where he’s in a good enough place to help us right away,” Hottovy said of Ryan, who threw a live simulated batting practice in South Florida last weekend and a bullpen session before getting clearance to fly to Chicago late Wednesday.

Ryan’s effectiveness, once he’s cleared, will dictate how much work he and the rest of the relievers may receive.

“I feel really good about where he is in the conversations that we’ve had, but ... we’ve just got to get eyes on these guys and try to get them there,” Hottovy said.

Ryan made 73 appearances last season and held opponents to a .243 average.

4. David Ross is making a good first impression.

Hottovy, who turned 39 on Thursday, and Javier Baez praised rookie manager David Ross for his upbeat demeanor since spring training and into summer training while making sure his coaches and players follow health and safety protocols.

“Everyone was happy with the way it was working in spring training,” Baez said.

Hottovy loves Ross’ nonstop chatter that can be heard as far as the press box during intrasquad games.

“He brings such a unique perspective to that and such a positive outlook on that,” Hottovy said. “It’s been fun to be around him. ...

“He gives feedback and cheers for one pitcher and then says, ‘great pitch’ but also ‘good take’ on the next pitch. It’s like he’s plays the game and it’s fine. He brings great energy and he brings it every day, for sure.”

Ross said he believes he doesn’t have to “sugarcoat” a lot when talking to his players.

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