MESA, Ariz. -- Yu Darvish knows that Cubs manager Joe Maddon has not yet revealed the rotation order behind Opening Day starter Jon Lester. So, when reporters began asking Darvish about his upcoming schedule after his Minor League camp start on Sunday, the pitcher gave some conflicting answers.

First, Darvish quipped that he was slated to start the sixth game of the season. Then, the right-hander said that his upcoming bullpen session is scheduled for Thursday, noting that it is three days before he pitches. That would make him the starter for March 31 in Texas, even though Darvish has spent all spring lined up as a potential No. 2 starter for Saturday against the Rangers.

The only thing that is clear is that Darvish was having a lot of fun messing with the media.

"I'm sneaky," he said with a wide smile.

The entertaining exchange was also an indication that Darvish is confident that the blister that flared on his right finger on Tuesday will not stop him from taking the mound in either the second or third game of the season in Texas. While he pitched with a bandage on the finger for parts of five innings in a Minor League game on Sunday, Darvish said he worked pain-free and liked how his slider, cutter and fastball all operated.

Over 4 2/3 innings, Darvish allowed two runs on four hits and piled up eight strikeouts against no walks in a 71-pitch (45 strikes) performance. He generated nine swinging strikes, threw first-pitch strikes to 10 of the 19 batters he faced and ended with two groundouts and four flyouts (two to the outfield and two on the infield).

When Darvish does throw his next bullpen session, he said, he will do so without the wrap on his impacted finger. That will be the next test to make sure he remains on target for Texas.

"I'm happy, because I'm still healthy," said Darvish, who was limited to eight starts last year due to arm issues. "But, this is not a goal. My goal is the whole season, stay healthy. This is the first step for my goal."

Roster taking shape

The Cubs have not formally announced their Opening Day roster, but president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said the odds are "pretty high" that the group will consist of the players currently in camp. That said, Chicago will continue to explore external options the next few days.

"I think it's appropriate to be in an opportunistic mindset," Epstein said. "But, that doesn't necessarily mean that anything is going to happen, or that other moves were made with certain outside acquisitions in mind. There are players we have an eye on and teams we're still talking to, but we've been talking to them all spring. So, it's probably more likely than not that the 25 guys that we break with are here in camp."

Zagunis impresses

Barring any late additions from outside, outfielder Mark Zagunis occupies the last spot on the Cubs' bench. Zagunis went 2-for-3 with two walks Sunday in a 24-6 rout over the Padres at Peoria to lift his Cactus League average to .357.

"He's healthy," Epstein said, "and he's combining his really outstanding plate discipline with the ability to drive the ball to all fields when he gets his pitch. So, he's a quality at-bat, especially against lefties, but we like him against righties, too. And he's worked to improve his defense. He came in with a great attitude this year, so he's somebody that we really think could help us off the bench."

Worth noting

• Shortstop Addison Russell will remain in extended Spring Training to continue training after camp breaks, while finishing out his 40-game suspension for violating MLB's Domestic Violence Policy. Russell will be allowed a seven-game Minor League assignment prior to being eligible for activation in May. Epstein emphasized, however, that the off-field work Russell is doing remains the biggest priority.

"It's still not appropriate to talk about baseball when there are more important matters at hand with him," Epstein said. "He continues to put in the most important work he'll do in his career, which is this off-the-field matter and to make sure that he continues to grow as a person."

• The Cubs are examining what alternatives might exist externally to aid the depth behind starting catcher Willson Contreras, but Maddon reiterated that the team is comfortable if Victor Caratini is in the backup role.

"Victor's had a great camp. He's really come on strongly," Maddon said. "He's absolutely a Major League baseball player, but again, we're still having different conversations. And if Victor is there, I'm really happy with that. But, those are the kind of conversations that we constantly have and you just don't know how that's going to work out."

• Veteran utility man Daniel Descalso (left shoulder) garnered a handful of at-bats and manned multiple positions on the infield during a Minor League game on Sunday. Descalso likely will play during one of the two upcoming games against the Red Sox and is expected to be fine for the Opening Day roster.

Up next

Left-hander Cole Hamels is scheduled to start on Monday, when the Cubs host the Red Sox in an 8:05 p.m. CT game that will be broadcast on NBC Sports Chicago. Right-hander Rick Porcello is slated to take the mound for the reigning World Series-champion Red Sox.