San Diego’s pitching line-up is getting a timely lift as veteran ace Yu Darvish returns to the mound on Monday night. The Japanese star will start in the opening game of a four-match series against National League West rivals, the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Darvish has missed the first half of the 2025 season with inflammation in his right elbow. At 38, he remains a vital part of the Padres’ rotation when fit, though injuries have plagued his last two seasons.
According to manager Mike Shildt, Darvish won’t go deep into the game. He’s still building back his stamina, having recently thrown 64 pitches over four innings in a simulated game. Expect a pitch count around 75 and a limit of four to five innings as he eases back into action.
Conveniently, the upcoming All-Star break will offer Darvish time to recover fully. He’s expected to make just two starts before then. The team could also adjust his second start to Sunday, giving him added rest and flexibility.
Darvish’s return couldn’t come at a better time. Last year, he impressed in the playoffs, holding the LA Dodgers to just three runs over nearly 14 innings. In 2024, he managed a solid 3.31 ERA across 16 starts despite injury setbacks and personal time away.
The Padres’ pitching options have been stretched thin in his absence. With Michael King also sidelined due to a shoulder and nerve issue, the team has relied on a patchwork rotation. Dylan Cease, Nick Pivetta and Randy Vásquez have been the only constants. Others, including Stephen Kolek, Ryan Bergert, Matt Waldron and Kyle Hart, have been filling gaps.
Hart was called up again on Sunday, but the Padres chose to start reliever David Morgan as an opener instead. With Darvish back, the rotation will finally have more balance and experience.
“We always kept a spot open in the schedule for Yu,” said Shildt. “It’s great to finally see him tick all the boxes.”
Looking ahead, the rotation could soon see more shuffling. A recent rainout forced changes, and with Kolek optioned back to Triple-A El Paso, younger arms are being carefully managed to avoid overuse.
Bergert, currently recovering from a forearm bruise, is due to make a rehab appearance. He could return in time for the weekend games. Meanwhile, there is no clear timeline for King’s return. He has started light throwing again, but a full comeback is likely still weeks away.
For now, Darvish’s comeback is a major boost for a team trying to steady its playoff push.
Photo: Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images
