Padres manager Mike Shildt seemed perplexed as to why there would be questions about Darvish going into the postseason given that he has allowed six first-inning homers and 14 total homers over his past 12 starts.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s Yu Darvish,\u201d Shildt said. \u201cI mean, guys are going to put some swings on it. Their top of the order is pretty good. I think they\u2019ve got a combined .850 OPS, all three of them, if you average it out. So I don\u2019t know what to say beyond that. I mean, guy put a swing on it.\u201d<\/p>\n
It is unclear what to make of Shildt\u2019s comments for a few reasons.<\/p>\n
First, not only did Ketel Marte, the Diamondbacks\u2019 No.2 batter, homer off Darvish, so did No.9 batter Jake McCarthy. Second, these were not isolated incidents. Third, the Cubs have a pretty good top of the order as well.<\/p>\n
None of the cold realities regarding Darvish \u2014 the preponderance of home runs, the 5.38 ERA \u2014 mean he is not capable of going out and giving the Padres what they need in a playoff game.<\/p>\n
Shildt is certainly correct when he says, \u201cIt\u2019s Yu Darvish.\u201d There are still times in all his starts this year where he looks unhittable. Even last night, against a team he has faced a lot and while not getting through a single inning without allowing a baserunner, he got some silly swings.<\/p>\n
Depending partly on how far Nick Pivetta goes in Game 1 and in which game Darvish pitches, the Padres might be looking for him to give them four innings. If he can do it without allowing a home run, something he has done just twice in his past 12 starts, that might work out.<\/p>\n
As noted in my game story, the Padres are planning on their bullpen doing some heavy lifting in the playoffs. (Whether there should be confidence in plan is another topic given some recent results.)<\/p>\n
Darvish said he will begin his between-starts preparation as if he is going again in five days, which would land him on Game 2. And if he is tabbed to start a game against the Cubs, he knows what will be necessary.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere comes the real deal, right?\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m just going to go full-on from the first pitch until they pull me out of the game. So very excited, looking forward to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Darvish was asked whether that was different than how he has pitched since returning from the injured list on July 7.<\/p>\n
His answer was particularly intriguing when considering some context.<\/p>\n
The 39-year-old Darvish has been sidelined by elbow issues at some point in all five seasons he has played for the Padres. It is considered a matter of time \u2014 and maybe a short time \u2014 before the elbow does not allow him to pitch anymore.<\/p>\n
Such is the state of his arm that the Padres considered a silver lining of Darvish spending the season\u2019s first three months on the injured list that it would preserve him for this time of year. There has been talk around baseball, including inside the Padres organization, about Darvish potentially not playing out his contract<\/a>.<\/p>\n So, here was his answer:<\/p>\n \u201cI would think so. You\u2019re thinking about your body. You\u2019re thinking about (the) number of pitches during the regular season. But once you go into the playoff it\u2019s like you don\u2019t necessarily care if you\u2019re going to break. You\u2019re just going to go on and give everything you have.\u201d<\/p>\n Fernando Flashback<\/p>\n Fernando Tatis Jr. appears to be going back in time just in time.<\/p>\n His grand slam in last night\u2019s fourth inning \u2014 on the ninth pitch of his at-bat \u2014 was his first since 2021. And his hitting a home run in his first game back after a bout of covid was reminiscent of who he was his first few years in the big leagues.<\/p>\n SDP \u2013 Fernando Tatis Jr. Grand Slam (24)<\/p>\n \ud83d\udccf 409 ft | \ud83d\udca8 111.7 mph | \ud83d\udcd0 24\u00b0 ARI (2) @ SDP (5) \u2014 MLB Home Runs\ud83d\ude80 (@MLBHRs_) September 27, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n His first four times on the injured list, between 2019 and \u201821, he hit a home run no later than his second game back. Three times, he did it within his first three at-bats. His final time coming off the IL in 2021, he doubled and hit two home runs before making an out in his first game back.<\/p>\n Tatis has arguably been the Padres\u2019 most valuable player in 2025. He leads the team in WAR (5.7) and wRC+ (129) and is tops among their qualifying batters with an .807 OPS. His 109 runs are fifth in the National League. He is also the NL\u2019s likely Gold Glove winner in right field.<\/p>\n But he also suffered a significant midseason power drop-off, and power is an essential part of his toolbox if he is to be considered one of the game\u2019s best players.<\/p>\n After hitting 13 home runs in his first 205 at-bats this season, Tatis hit four in his next 280 at-bats.<\/p>\n But last night was his second game in a row with a home run and his seventh in 25 games (105 at-bats).<\/p>\n His recent power surge gives more credence to the idea that another October outburst could be looming.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like I\u2019m in a great place,\u201d said Tatis, whose 1.328 OPS ranks fifth all-time through a player\u2019s first 13 career postseason games. \u201cYou know, playoff baseball is definitely different. Looking forward to that adrenaline.\u201d<\/p>\n Tatis, who likes a good party as much or more than the next guy, also has some extra motivation.<\/p>\n He missed this past Monday\u2019s celebration when the Padres clinched their playoff spot, as that was the first of three games he missed while ill.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s definitely hard, watching from home,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have played for this all year, so definitely was looking forward to that celebration. But that means now we need to celebrate a couple more times.\u201d<\/p>\n Finishing strong<\/p>\n Luis Arraez had four hits for the third time this season and the first time since July 5.<\/p>\n That continued his torrid finish to a season that will almost certainly end with him hitting below .300 for just the second time in his six seasons and not winning a batting title for the first time since 2021.<\/p>\n Arraez is batting .393 (22-for-56) during a 14-game hitting streak, which is two shy of his career-best hitting streak set earlier this season.<\/p>\n He has his season average up to .292, fourth highest in the National League and 13 points behind league leader Trea Turner of the Phillies.<\/p>\n Turner is on the injured list with a hamstring strain and is not expected to play again until the NL Division Series.<\/p>\n So, provided no one else passes Turner, there is a fixed target.<\/p>\n \u201cI need to get four or five hits in tomorrow and the last game,\u201d Arraez said with a chuckle. \u201cBut nothing is impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n Actually, it would take Arraez going 12-for-12 over the next two days to pass Turner.<\/p>\n A sweet connection<\/p>\n Last night was the final time the Padres will wear their pink, mint and yellow City Connect jerseys. The club will unveil a new version before next season.<\/p>\n Arraez will miss them. But not for the reason you might think.<\/p>\n It does not have anything to do with the colors vibing with his adopted home of Miami. Nor does it have to do with his being a flashy dresser.<\/p>\n \u201cThat uniform is for girls,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I like to wear it. I\u2019m a dad. I have three daughters. That\u2019s why I like to wear it.\u201d<\/p>\n Tidbits<\/p>\n All right, that\u2019s it for me.<\/p>\n Talk to you tomorrow.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\n
\u26be\ufe0f 95.3 mph four-seam fastball (ARI \u2013 RHP Zac Gallen)
\ud83c\udfdf\ufe0f Out in 30\/30 MLB parks<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udd3b 4th#ForTheFaithful<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/hoO0fEmWb7<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/FTJpower.png\")
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