San Diego Padres right-hander Yu Darvish has encountered a setback and will not rejoin the team on Tuesday as previously planned. The 37-year-old, who has been sidelined with a groin strain since late May, was slated to return for the game against the Washington Nationals.
However, Darvish’s return has been postponed due to minor elbow inflammation, according to Padres manager Mike Shildt. As a result, Adam Mazur will take the mound in Darvish’s place.
Yu Darvish has “a little” elbow inflammation, Mike Shildt said. Adam Mazur will start tomorrow.
— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) June 24, 2024
Darvish was initially expected to return after a rehab start last Wednesday, but his progress was hampered by a rough outing. In that Single-A start, he allowed one home run, seven hits, six earned runs, and one walk while striking out three in a losing effort. Although the team initially planned for him to pitch on Tuesday, elbow inflammation has delayed his return.
When healthy, Darvish has posted a 4-3 record with a 3.20 ERA and 53 strikeouts this season. However, he has been sidelined for significant stretches, including an earlier stint on the IL for neck tightness in April.
Rookie Adam Mazur will make his fifth MLB start in Darvish’s absence. Despite a strong debut where he gave up just two hits and one run over six innings, Mazur has struggled since, holding a 0-2 record with a 7.27 ERA and 11 strikeouts this season. He will aim to turn things around on Tuesday.
There is currently no update on Darvish’s next steps, so he will remain on the IL for now.
