Yu Darvish Fantasy Stats

San Diego Padres right-hander Yu Darvish (elbow) will miss the entire 2026 season after having surgery to fix a torn flexor tendon in his right elbow that included an internal-brace procedure, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. Darvish had the surgery last Wednesday with Dr. Keith Meister. The 39-year-old Japanese hurler only made 15 starts for the Friars during the 2025 regular season due to right-elbow issues, and he also missed some time with elbow injuries the previous two years. Darvish also had Tommy John surgery back in 2015. He's planning on returning to pitch for the Padres in 2027, but at his age, it's fair to wonder how much he has left in the tank. Darvish went 5-5 with a career-worst 5.38 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 68 strikeouts and 19 walks in 72 innings this year. The Padres will have a big need for starting rotation help this offseason, with Darvish injured and Michael King and Dylan Cease both free agents.

San Diego Padres right-hander Yu Darvish will start the win-or-go-home Game 3 of the NL wild-card series against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports. Darvish was a Cub from 2018-20, but his run with them ended when they traded him to the Padres a few months before the 2021 season began. Four years later, Darvish has a chance to help eliminate the Cubs from the postseason. The 39-year-old is coming off a difficult and injury-limited regular season, though, as he recorded a career-worst 5.38 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP and 68:19 K:BB over 15 starts and 72 innings. Darvish, who will oppose Cubs righty Jameson Taillon on Thursday, has pitched in 13 playoff games and gone 5-7 with a 3.77 ERA across 71 2/3 frames.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish told reporters on Wednesday that he made a mechanical change that "drastically dropped the arm slot." The change seemed to pay off immediately on Wednesday, as Darvish held the Mets to just two hits in seven shutout innings with seven strikeouts and two hits allowed. He earned his first win of the season after going 0-3 with a 9.18 ERA and 5.31 FIP in his first four starts. Darvish was dropped in many standard leagues after his brutal start to the season, but Wednesday's adjustment and improved results could make him a fantasy-relevant option again. His next start is currently scheduled for next Tuesday on the road in Arizona, and it'll definitely be one to watch closely to see if he can sustain his success.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish (elbow) will be activated off the 60-day injured list and start against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday. Finally, Darvish will take the mound after missing basically the first half of the season due to right elbow inflammation. The right-hander threw a 64-pitch simulated game on Tuesday. That being said, Darvish might not be fully stretched out, so this could be a shorter outing than expected. The hope is that Darvish can make two shorter starts before the All-Star break, and then be fully unleashed for the second half of the season. Fantasy managers in need of pitching help should certainly check the waiver wire and add Darvish if available.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish (elbow) appears to be nearing a return to the mound. Darvish threw a bullpen session on Saturday, which means he won't take the mound on Sunday. It seemed unlikely that Darvish would be activated off the 60-day injured list this weekend, but there was some hope. The Padres are expected to announce a plan for Darvish on Sunday. Darvish has been sidelined all season due to right elbow inflammation. It sounds like he should be ready to return to the Padres rotation at some point in July. That being said, it wouldn't be a bad idea for fantasy managers to stash Darvish now.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish (elbow) is not expected to be activated this weekend. The Padres do not have a starter named for Sunday's matchup with the Rangers, but manager Mike Shildt stated that Darvish likely would not be the one to fill the void. The veteran hurler has been dealing with elbow inflammation, however, he's been working his way back, now having thrown three simulated games with his last one going four innings and 64 pitches. Although Shildt expressed that Darvish would not be Sunday's option, he also did not make it clear what the next step would be for the Japanese righty, however, it's looking like he could be activated sometime in the coming weeks, perhaps even without completing an official minor-league rehab assignment. Whatever the case, fantasy managers in need of pitching help could stash Darvish where available, as he can still be a viable back-end rotation piece in 12-team leagues and deeper.

San Diego Padres right-hander Yu Darvish (elbow) threw a four-inning, 64-pitch simulated game against Single-A hitters in Lake Elsinore on Monday, which was his third sim game, according to MLB.com. Darvish is nearing a return to the big-league starting rotation, but it's unclear what his next step will be at this time. The 38-year-old Japanese hurler is currently on the 60-day injured list and has been out all season with right-elbow inflammation, but he could be back in early July, depending on whether the Friars want to send him on an official minor-league rehab assignment. The Padres certainly could use the help in the rotation with Michael King (shoulder) still sidelined, but they also don't want to rush the veteran hurler. Darvish can be useful as back-end rotation depth in mixed fantasy leagues, but he's no longer the dominant strikeout artist he was earlier in his career and will likely be eased back in from a pitch-count perspective when he does make his 2025 debut.

San Diego Padres right-hander Yu Darvish (elbow) recovered well from a three-inning, 51-pitch simulated game against Single-A Lake Elsinore on June 25 and then threw a 31-pitch bullpen session on Saturday in Cincinnati, according to MLB.com. Manager Mike Shildt said that Darvish "felt great" afterwards, and the next step could be another simulated game. Darvish is currently on the 60-day injured list and hasn't pitched yet in 2025 for the Padres, but if he continues to progress, he could come off the IL to make his season debut before the mid-July All-Star break. The Friars could surely use the 38-year-old veteran Japanese hurler back with Michael King (shoulder) and Ryan Bergert (forearm) also on the IL. Darvish is no longer in his prime and had a career-low 23.6% strikeout rate last year, but he can still be useful in mixed fantasy leagues in the right matchups.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish (elbow) pitched a simulated game this past Wednesday at Single-A Lake Elsinore, and it went well, so the team is "getting closer to putting together a plan" for when the veteran hurler will return to the mound for the Padres. While vague, it appears he's continuing to progress, so one would expect a couple of rehab starts to follow before rejoining San Diego's rotation, which would put him on track to return after the All-Star break in a best-case scenario. The Padres are also without Michael King, so they could use the rotation help. The 38-year-old has yet to pitch for the team this season, but was effective in his 16 starts in 2024, posting a 3.31 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and a 16.9 percent K-BB%, so fantasy managers in need of pitching help could consider stashing him for when he returns.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish (elbow) threw a simulated game on Friday as part of his progression after being shut down following a rehab start he made back on May 14. The simulated game built the veteran back up to about two innings and 40 pitches. If the 38-year-old feels good Saturday, in all likelihood, a rehab assignment will follow next week, putting him on track to return sometime around the All-Star break. With Michael King out as well, the Padres could use the 5x All-Star, who made 16 starts last year, going 7-3 with a 3.31 ERA (3.91 SIERA), 1.07 WHIP, and a solid 16.9 percent K-BB% in 81 2/3 IP. Fantasy managers in deep leagues who are hurting for starting pitching should consider stashing Darvish ahead of his eventual return.