Padres' Yu Darvish: Completes five innings in loss
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Darvish (0-2) took the loss against the Nationals on Saturday, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk with one strikeout over five innings.
Darvish rebounded from a two-run second inning and was highly efficient, needing just 69 pitches to complete five frames for the first time in three starts. The veteran hurler still appears to be searching for his command, however, as he generated only six swinging strikes and has posted a 8:7 K:BB over 13.1 innings since debuting July 7. He'll look to continue building up his workload and improving on a 6.08 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in a road matchup with the Cardinals next week.
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Padres' Yu Darvish: Stretches out in second start
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Darvish allowed four runs on five hits and three walks while striking out two over 4.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Phillies on Saturday.
Darvish upped his pitch count to 83 (46 strikes) in his second start after returning from an elbow injury. The results weren't any better than in his season debut, and he's still having some trouble establishing his control -- in addition to the three walks, he also had a wild pitch in this contest. Darvish has allowed six runs over 8.1 innings while adding a 7:6 K:BB. He should continue to build up his workload, and having some time off during the All-Star break will be a benefit as well. His next start will be on the road following the break, either against the Nationals or Marlins, both of whom make for favorable matchups.
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Padres' Yu Darvish: Mixed results in 2025 debut
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Darvish (0-1) took the loss against Arizona on Monday, allowing two runs on three hits and three walks while striking out five batters over 3.2 innings.
Darvish finally suited up for the Padres after missing over three months to begin the campaign due to an elbow injury. The right-hander's control was decent despite the absence -- he issued three walks and hit a batter but threw 41 of 63 pitches for strikes -- and he racked up 12 whiffs in the relatively short outing. However, two of the three hits he allowed were doubles, and each of the two-baggers resulted in a run. Assuming Darvish recovers well from the outing, he's tentatively scheduled to make his next start this weekend at home against the Phillies.
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Padres' Yu Darvish: Activated ahead of season debut
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The Padres activated Darvish (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Monday.
Darvish is set to make his season debut Monday against the Diamondbacks following a long recovery from right elbow inflammation. The veteran righty hasn't pitched in an official game since he made a rehab start May 14, but he has been ramping up with a series of simulated games. Darvish threw 64 pitches in his last simulated game, so he will have a limited workload versus Arizona.
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Padres' Yu Darvish: Set for season debut Monday
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Padres manager Mike Shildt said that Darvish (elbow) will be activated from the 60-day injured list to start Monday's contest against the Diamondbacks in San Diego, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Darvish will make his season debut after missing the entirety of the 2025 campaign to date while recovering from right elbow inflammation. Though he hasn't pitched in a competitive setting since making a rehab start at Triple-A El Paso on May 14, Darvish has been able to get stretched out recently through a series of simulated games. He tossed 64 pitches in his most recent sim game Tuesday, so he should be capable of providing the Padres with around 75-to-90 pitches in his season debut. Over his 16 starts with San Diego in 2024, Darvish posted an impressive 3.31 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 78 strikeouts over 81.2 innings.
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Padres' Yu Darvish: Unlikely to be activated for Sunday
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Padres manager Mike Shildt said Friday that Darvish (elbow) is "probably not" going to start for the Padres on Sunday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
With the Padres in the midst of playing 10 games in 10 days and having a hole in their rotation for Sunday, there was some speculation that Darvish -- who hasn't pitched in the big leagues yet this year -- could be activated off the IL to make his season debut. However, that doesn't appear to be in San Diego's plans despite the fact that Darvish tossed 64 pitches in his most recent simulated game Tuesday. The Padres may instead want the veteran right-hander to make at least one minor-league rehab start before returning him to the big club, but it remains uncertain how the team will handle Sunday's open rotation spot. Cassavell suggests that a starter could be called up from the minors, but the situation remains nebulous.
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Padres' Yu Darvish: Goes four innings in sim game
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Darvish (elbow) threw a four-inning, 64-pitch simulated game Tuesday, MLB.com reports.
Darvish faced off against Single-A Lake Elsinore hitters in the sim game, his third since the middle of June. The Padres have been cagey about offering up a target date for his return from the 60-day injured list, but Darvish's season debut appears to be imminent. Though pitchers who have missed as much time as Darvish has typically head out on rehab assignments before being activated, the Padres could deem his sim games as being sufficient enough as he prepares for a return from the IL. After optioning fifth starter Matt Waldron to Triple-A El Paso on Wednesday, the Padres currently have an opening in the rotation for Sunday against the Rangers, and it wouldn't be overly surprising if Darvish was being earmarked for that contest, assuming he's feeling well physically following Tuesday's sim game.
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Padres' Yu Darvish: Another simulated game on tap
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Darvish (elbow) will throw another simulated game Tuesday, Sammy Levitt of 97.3 The Fan reports.
Darvish threw 51 pitches in a simulated game last Wednesday and should increase that pitch count during Tuesday's session. The veteran right-hander could be ready for a rehab start after that, though the Padres haven't tipped their hand regarding Darvish's next step. Darvish has been sidelined all season with right elbow inflammation, but he's pushing to return from the 60-day injured list before the All-Star break.
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Padres' Yu Darvish: Tosses three simulated innings
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Darvish (elbow) threw three simulated innings against Single-A hitters Wednesday, Yuki Yamada of MLB.com reports.
Per Yamada, Darvish threw 51 pitches, and his fastball topped out at 94.5 miles per hour. The right-hander threw about 10 more pitches than in his previous sim game June 20, so he appears to be gradually increasing his workload. Darvish said that he's uncertain what his next step will be, but he suggested that he could pitch in a minor-league game soon. Darvish also indicated that he's hopeful to return from the 60-day injured list before the All-Star break, though he acknowledged that he's unsure if that will happen. Darvish has yet to pitch for the Padres this season, and his return could be a big boost to a San Diego rotation that's currently without Michael King (shoulder) and Ryan Bergert (forearm) as well as Joe Musgrove (elbow), who isn't expected to pitch until 2026.
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Padres' Yu Darvish: Tosses two simulated innings
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Darvish (elbow) threw around two innings and 40 pitches in a simulated game Friday, MLB.com reports.
Darvish continues to progress after having his throwing program temporarily paused as a result of experiencing soreness following a rehab appearance May 14. The veteran hurler was transferred to the 60-day injured list June 16, though that was primarily a procedural move since he had already missed more than two months at that point. The Padres have expressed optimism that Darvish will be able to make his return to the team's rotation by the end of June, but that scenario is looking iffy given that he hasn't yet resumed a rehab assignment.
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Padres' Yu Darvish: Another sim game on tap
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Darvish (elbow) is scheduled to throw another simulated game Friday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
The upcoming sim game will be Darvish's second in just under a week, as he previously threw approximately 40 pitches against live hitters Saturday. If all goes well during Friday's throwing session, Darvish could then be cleared to head out on a rehab assignment next week. The right-hander has been on the shelf all season due to elbow inflammation, but he looks like he could be ready to make his 2025 debut with the Padres at some point in late June or early July.
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Padres' Yu Darvish: Moved to 60-day IL
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The Padres transferred Darvish (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.
The transaction won't affect Darvish's timeline for a return, as he's already spent more than two months on the shelf while waiting to make his 2025 debut for the Padres. The right-hander's move to the 60-day IL will clear a spot on the 40-man roster for outfielder Bryce Johnson, whose contract was selected from Triple-A El Paso. Darvish was able to make a rehab start with Triple-A El Paso on May 14, but after he experienced renewed soreness in his elbow coming out of that appearance, he was shut down from throwing for about two weeks. The veteran right-hander has since resumed ramping up again and most recently threw a 40-pitch simulated game Saturday, so he could soon be cleared to head back out on a rehab assignment. Darvish looks to be a candidate to return to the San Diego rotation in late June or early July.
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Padres' Yu Darvish: Slated for sim game Saturday
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Darvish (elbow) is expected to throw around 40 pitches in a simulated game Saturday, per MLB.com.
Darvish continues to inch toward his Padres season debut, with Saturday's scheduled sim game coming after he tossed multiple bullpen sessions in the early part of June. The veteran right-hander threw four innings in a minor-league rehab start with Double-A San Antonio on May 14, but he experienced some soreness afterward and temporarily halted his throwing program. The Padres have remained very patient with Darvish and appear content to allow the hurler take as much time as he needs to ramp up before he joins the big-league rotation, though a late-June or early July activation remains on the table.
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Padres' Yu Darvish: Set for side session this week
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Darvish (elbow) is expected to throw a bullpen session in San Francisco on Tuesday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
After experiencing tightness following his minor-league rehab start with Double-A San Antonio on May 14, Darvish was shut down for a couple weeks before he resumed playing catch. According to Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune, Darvish stepped back on a mound Saturday and threw about six or seven pitches at less-than-full intensity, and with that brief workout apparently going well, he'll take the next step forward in his progression by throwing a formal bullpen session. The Padres haven't mapped out a plan for Darvish beyond Tuesday, and though he remains without a clear timeline to make his season debut, the team maintains that he won't require an extended ramp-up period. Cassavell suggests that Darvish may need just one or two rehab starts before rejoining the big-league rotation, perhaps at some point in mid-to-late June.
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Padres' Yu Darvish: Resumes throwing
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Darvish (elbow) played catch from 90 feet Monday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Darvish had his throwing program temporarily halted after experiencing some soreness following a minor-league rehab start May 14, but the issue was never deemed a setback, and the right-hander has since been able to resume playing catch. Per Cassavell, Darvish "didn't look inhibited" in Monday's throwing session, and manager Mike Shildt said after the hurler played catch that "he's in a good spot" and is "making steps forward." Still, there doesn't seem to be a set timeline for Darvish to restart his rehab assignment, which makes his 2025 debut date for the Padres equally hazy.
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Padres' Yu Darvish: Not ready to come off IL
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Darvish (elbow) felt tightness in his elbow following his rehab start with Triple-A El Paso on May 14 and doesn't feel ready to pitch in a big-league game, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
While Darvish is still playing catch and isn't feeling pain in his throwing elbow, it's nonetheless concerning that the veteran hurler has essentially had his rehab stint halted after throwing 51 pitches over four innings with El Paso in his lone appearance. Per Acee, sources indicate that Darvish hasn't suffered a setback, but the 38-year-old doesn't feel confident that he would be able to recover well enough between starts to justify being activated from the injured list and rejoining San Diego's rotation. The expectation is that Darvish will be examined during the coming week to determine if his elbow is structurally sound, and the results of that consultation should provide more clarity about what the path forward looks like for the Japanese pitcher.
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Padres' Yu Darvish: Return timeline still uncertain
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Darvish (elbow) won't pitch during San Diego's three-game series in Toronto that begins Tuesday, Annie Heilbrunn of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Darvish made a minor-league rehab start with Triple-A El Paso last Wednesday and allowed two runs on two hits and one walk while striking out four batters over four innings. He threw 51 pitches and averaged 94.5 mph on his fastball, leading to some speculation that the veteran right-hander could make his next start with San Diego, However, Padres manager Mike Shildt confirmed Sunday that Darvish won't return during the three-game series versus the Blue Jays that begins Tuesday, saying, "What I can tell you is he's going to continue to work on throwing and getting some other things taken care of, and he will not be pitching in Toronto." It isn't yet clear when -- or if -- Darvish will make another rehab start with El Paso, but he appears to be nearing activation from the injured list and still seems to be on track to return by the end of May.
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Padres' Yu Darvish: Cleared to begin rehab assignment
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Padres manager Mike Shildt said Monday that Darvish (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A El Paso on Wednesday, Kyle Glaser of Foul Territory TV reports.
Darvish has been working his way back from right elbow inflammation, an injury that first cropped up in mid-March. The veteran hurler threw 48 pitches in a simulated game last week and should expand that pitch count Wednesday. Darvish will need at least a couple rehab starts before rejoining the Padres' rotation.
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Padres' Yu Darvish: Throws to hitters Thursday
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Darvish (elbow) threw three innings in a simulated game Thursday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Darvish threw 48 pitches during the session at the Padres' spring complex in Arizona. It was the first time the veteran hurler has thrown to hitters since his second start of spring training, after which he was diagnosed with right elbow inflammation. Padres manager Mike Shildt declined to give a timeline for Darvish's return but stated that the right-handed starter is "definitely getting closer" and suggested that he could be activated off the IL without significant buildup, stating, "I think we're going to trust a guy that's got 200 professional wins and 3,000 strikeouts." It's possible that Darvish could return to San Diego's rotation before the end of May, but if he does get the go-ahead that soon, he'd likely be on a somewhat limited pitch count in his initial outings.
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Padres' Yu Darvish: Could return in late May
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Darvish (elbow) is likely still several weeks away from his 2025 Padres debut, but he could be activated from the IL in late May, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Darvish most recently threw a bullpen session, which included a "heavier dose of breaking pitches," last Friday. He's been purposely tracked for a "slow, steady progression," though he may be ready to face live hitters in the near future. Cassavell notes that San Diego's schedule becomes tighter in late May and early June, which may be the impetus for Darvish's activation sometime during that span.
