In a blow to the San Diego Padres’ playoff aspirations, right-hander Yu Darvish has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to right elbow inflammation.
The extent of the injury is yet to be determined as further tests are being conducted.
However, Darvish remains optimistic about his return this season, describing the injury as “discomfort” and expressing his intention to pitch again.
The 15-day IL stint, backdated to Darvish’s start against Milwaukee on Friday, poses a significant challenge for the Padres, who have only 30 games remaining to overcome a seven-game deficit in the National League Wild Card race.
Darvish’s absence adds to the mounting concerns in the Padres’ rotation, which has been a key strength throughout the season.
This injury comes on the heels of Joe Musgrove’s placement on the IL earlier this month due to inflammation in his right shoulder capsule.
Considering the long-term investments made in both Darvish and Musgrove, the Padres are likely to prioritize their players’ long-term health.
However, if the team manages to reenter Wild Card contention, having a healthy Darvish and/or Musgrove available down the stretch would be advantageous.
Darvish, who has posted a 4.56 ERA in 24 starts this season, admitted to pitching through discomfort for a couple of months.
However, his recent soreness persisted after his last start, leading to the decision to place him on the IL. The full extent of the injury is still unknown, but Darvish is not expected to return until mid-September at the earliest.
Padres manager Bob Melvin acknowledged that Darvish will miss at least two starts during his 15-day IL stint. With Darvish’s workload and the late stage of the season, the team aims to be cautious and prioritize his well-being.
In Darvish’s absence, Rich Hill, who had previously been removed from the rotation due to early struggles, will fill his spot and start the series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday.
However, the Padres recognize that their playoff chances become even more improbable without Darvish and Musgrove.
The Padres will closely monitor Darvish’s progress and gather more information before determining the next steps in his recovery.
