May 13, 2025
San Diego Padres right-hander
Yu Darvish (elbow) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A El Paso on Wednesday, manager Mike Shildt announced on Monday night. Darvish tossed 48 pitches during a simulated game last week and is now ready to face live hitters in a game environment as he works his way back from right-elbow inflammation that he first experienced in mid-March during spring training. The 38-year-old has yet to make his 2025 debut, and the Padres aren't going to rush the Japanese veteran back into their starting rotation, so fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if he doesn't come off the injured list until sometime in late May or early June. The five-time All-Star is past his prime and in the twilight of his career, but he still offered fantasy managers a solid 3.31 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 16 starts last year, albeit with a career-low 23.6% strikeout rate.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Foul Territory - Kyle Glaser
May 8, 2025
San Diego Padres right-hander
Yu Darvish (elbow) has been throwing bullpen sessions and recently traveled to the team's spring training complex in Arizona, where he's expected to face live hitters for the first time on Thursday. Darvish is working his way back from right-elbow inflammation that has kept him out all season so far, but barring a setback as he builds up his arm, he could return to the Padres' starting rotation at some point this month. Since the 38-year-old Japanese veteran hasn't started a minor-league rehab assignment, his return probably won't come until late May, at the earliest. The five-time All-Star is no longer in his prime and also dealt with injuries that limited him to 16 starts in 2024, but when healthy, he still has fantasy value. Darvish went 7-3 for the Friars last year with a solid 3.31 ERA and 1.06 WHIP, but also with a career-low 23.6% strikeout rate and a 6.6% walk rate.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
May 7, 2025
San Diego Padres right-hander
Yu Darvish (elbow) has thrown several bullpen sessions and has ramped up the intensity with each session. Darvish traveled to the team's spring training complex in Arizona recently and could face live hitters in the coming days. The 38-year-old Japanese veteran was put on the 15-day injured list on March 27 (retroactive to March 24) with right-elbow inflammation that cropped up during spring training. He has yet to pitch at all in 2025, but barring a setback as he continues to ramp up, Darvish could return to the Padres' starting rotation in late May. He will certainly have a rotation spot waiting for him when he's fully healthy, making Darvish a stash candidate in fantasy, even though he's past his prime. The five-time All-Star went 7-3 last year with a 3.31 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with a 78:22 K:BB in 81 2/3 innings over just 16 starts.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 30, 2025
MLB.com's AJ Cassavell writes that the San Diego Padres are hopeful that right-hander
Yu Darvish (elbow), who has been out since mid-March with right-elbow inflammation, will rejoin the starting rotation at some point in May. Darvish threw another bullpen session last Friday and was able to mix in a heavier dose of breaking balls. His ramp-up has been slow because of the fact that he hadn't fully built up his arm in spring training when he was sidelined. The Japanese veteran is at least several weeks off but could move to facing live hitters in the near future. Darvish is expected to need around three or four bullpen sessions before he's cleared to face live hitters. The 38-year-old was avoided by many fantasy managers in spring drafts to his injury, and rightfully so, but he'll be a waiver-wire pickup as he gets closer to a 2025 debut. The four-time All-Star had a 3.31 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in his 16 starts in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - AJ Cassavell
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