Cubs manager Joe Maddon met with ESPN analyst Alex Rodriguez to clear the air before Sunday night's game against the Nationals after Rodriguez made controversial comments about right-hander Yu Darvish two weeks ago during a broadcast.

"Alex and I had a really nice discussion," Maddon said. "I felt good about it. Hopefully he felt equally the same."

Rodriguez indeed echoed Maddon's description of their talk.

"We had a brief, very positive conversation," Rodriguez said.