Yu Darvish made his season debut for the San Diego Padres, showcasing mixed results against the Arizona Diamondbacks. After recovering from right elbow inflammation, the right-hander threw 3 ⅔ innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits, striking out five while walking three. His pitch selection remained varied, utilizing eight different pitches and achieving 12 whiffs, with a notable fastball averaging 95.1 mph, a promising sign for his performance moving forward.

Despite being at the tail end of his career, Darvish's deep arsenal and ability to generate swings and misses highlight his potential impact on the Padres, who are vying for a wild card spot in the National League. His return is timely, as the team has faced challenges with other starters like Joe Musgrove and Michael King sidelined due to injuries. Manager Mike Shildt emphasized the importance of Darvish's physical readiness to contribute to the team’s playoff aspirations.