Jake Arrieta is so efficient on the mound, he's purposely putting runners on base this spring to get in work from the stretch.

The Chicago Cubs ace cruised through his first inning of work Monday against the San Diego Padres, and said he issued an "intentionally unintentional" walk to Derek Norris to open the second frame.

"I wanted to pitch with guys on base," Arrieta told Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune. "I wanted to work on pitching from the stretch with good timing, good rhythm, good tempo."

Getting work with runners on wasn't the only item on Arrieta's to-do list in the four-inning outing.

"It's hard to work on everything in one outing," Arrieta added. "I would've liked to have thrown a few more changeups today, but the biggest concern was from the stretch with guys on base and still executing quality pitches, spinning some good breaking balls."

The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner was supposed to abide by an innings plan early this season, but instead declared himself ready to throw "another 250" innings again this year following the outing.

Arrieta went 22-6 with an incredible 1.77 ERA in 33 starts last season while tossing 248 2/3 frames, including the postseason.

He's allowed one run on two hits over six innings of work this spring.