Most often, that has been manager Joe Maddon standing up in Darvish's defense, and president of baseball operations Theo Epstein has as well. Most recently, it's backup catcher Taylor Davis, a journeyman who has caught Darvish in his past two outings.
In the Cubs' 6-5 win against the Cardinals on Saturday, Davis was behind the plate as Darvish went just four innings, allowing five earned runs on six hits and five walks. Darvish got off the hook for a loss in large part because of Davis' grand slam in the fourth inning that tied the game at 5-5.
After missing most of 2018 with an elbow issue that led to surgery in September, Darvish has struggled this season. He's 2-3 with a 5.79 ERA and 1.71 WHIP. He has issued 27 walks, the second-most in the big leagues. Through it all, Davis carries an optimistic outlook, referencing Darvish's strong six-inning outing at Arizona on April 27.
"I've been preaching this, and I've been beating a dead horse: I truly believe that Cubs fans, it's time to get excited for Yu Darvish," Davis said on the Bernstein & McKnight Show on Monday. "I think you're getting ready to see the perennial Cy Young (contender) Yu Darvish. I think that the guy you saw not this (past) start but the start prior is a lot closer -- the start in Arizona -- is closer to the Yu Darvish that you're going to get every day, the (only) two hits (allowed). The start the other day for Yu (on Saturday) was actually still a very good start. The results in the box score weren't great, but if you go back and watch that game, there were a couple of (flukes). Michael Wacha -- good for him -- but he had two hits, and I don't think he's had a hit in two years off a right-handed pitcher. And so, you take away a couple things like that, a couple tough reads here and there and Yu gets out of that game and it looks good."
Davis believes it's only a matter of time for Darvish, and Davis put the burden on himself to get the best out of his teammate.
"Cubs fans have a lot to be excited for with him," Davis said. "The biggest thing with him is there are so many weapons. Everybody knows that the fastball is really hard, but there are so many other things that we can do. My job is trying to figure out that day, that inning, that hitter which of those weapons are working, which we can use and how efficiently we can get through a game."
Check out Davis' full interview with the Bernstein & McKnight Show below, as he also discussed the thrill of his grand slam Saturday, which was his first homer in the big leagues.
"Other than finding out my wife was pregnant, this was the best moment probably of my life," Davis said. "And getting married -- I get in trouble (when I don't say that). Getting married and finding out we were pregnant and then this."