Yu Darvish DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

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.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish (elbow) played catch off of the mound on Tuesday, writes AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. It's a step in the right direction for Darvish, who still figures to be a ways away despite reportedly also playing loss toss out to 180 feet recently. There is no set timetable for his return, but the next step in his recovery will be throwing bullpens when he is ready. He landed on the injured list at the start of the season after dealing with elbow inflammation during the spring. He has struggled to stay healthy in recent years but remained productive when he takes the mound, posting a 3.31 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 16 starts in 2024. Darvish is likely at least three weeks away from coming off the injured list.

The San Diego Padres officially placed right-hander Yu Darvish (elbow) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to March 24) with right-elbow inflammation. In addition to Darvish, right-handers Matt Waldron (oblique), Bryan Hoeing (shoulder), Jhony Brito (forearm) and Sean Reynolds (foot) were placed on the 15-day IL before the start of the regular season. There is no timetable for when Darvish might return to San Diego's starting rotation to make his 2025 debut, but the good news is that he was spotted playing catch at Petco Park earlier this week. In a best-case scenario in which the 38-year-old veteran Japanese hurler avoids surgery on his right arm, he's likely to miss at least the first month of the season as he ramps up after being shut down in the middle of spring training. With Darvish out, left-hander Kyle Hart opens the season as the Friars' No. 5 starter.