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Yu Darvish is back, maybe for good
Sunday’s Say Hey includes Yu Darvish’s long-awaited return to the majors and Julio Urias’ return to the minors.
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
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One of baseball’s most dynamic and multi-talented pitchers returned to the fold on Saturday when Yu Darvish emerged from a 21-month hiatus to start against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates. It’s been a long and weary road for Darvish, who has not seen a major league start since August 2014, when his season was cut short due to elbow inflammation. Prior to the 2015 season, Darvish was diagnosed with a torn UCL and underwent the requisite Tommy John surgery, pushing back his major league return another full year. Despite a strict pitch limit, the 29-year-old ace looked both comfortable and competent on the mound.
Over five innings and 81 pitches, Darvish exercised his extensive pitch repertoire against the Pirates, limiting them to three hits, a walk, and a run in the Rangers’ 5-2 win. Nine of nineteen first pitches landed for strikes, and the right-hander struck out seven batters while working through four scoreless frames. The only blips on an otherwise flawless outing came courtesy of one Cole Figueroa, who drew a four-pitch walk in the third inning and returned in the fifth to score Francisco Cervelli and spoil the shutout.
Darvish’s comeback couldn’t have come at a better time for the 2016 Rangers, who are neck-and-neck with the Mariners at the top of the AL West. Saturday’s win scooted them within a half-game of the lead, and getting their ace back in the rotation could be the catalyst they need to reclaim the division title. Is it too early to predict another 200-strikeout, Cy Young-contending performance for Darvish? Probably, but with a 95 mph fastball and Adrian Beltre dishing out run support right and left, all signs are pointing up.
- One day after his major league debut, prospect pitcher Julio Urias was summoned back to the farm system. The change likely stemmed from the Dodgers’ recent bullpen struggles, and is rumored to be temporary.
- Sabermetricians are still figuring out the best way to assess catchers. Pitch blocking and framing? Runs on Passed Pitches? Swipe Rate Above Average? Twinkie Town’s James Fillmore is here to introduce a fancy new metric: the Henry Blanco.
- With a well-developed rotation of off-speed pitches and a frighteningly deceptive fastball, Nathan Eovaldi might be on the verge of a long-awaited breakout.
- Could Aaron Sanchez unseat Marcus Stroman as the best starter in Toronto?
- During a weekend when Felix Hernandez looked fallible and the Mariners lost a game on the worst double play in major league history, here’s a bit of positivity to cheer you up: Edgar Martinez and the power of encouragement.
- With the Cubs and Pirates firmly planted at the top of the NL Central, the Cardinals might be better off selling at the trade deadline.
- How has the Athletics’ front office handled the mishaps of 2016, and what can they do to turn things around?
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