Padres Ace Yu Darvish Can't Wait to Face Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers

The Dodgers-Padres rivalry resumes soon.

The rivalry is on between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers ahead of their opening game matchups. Both teams begin Spring Training and the regular season by going up against each other. 

Their Spring Training matchup starts on February 22 and their opening game of the season will be on March 20 in the Seoul Series.

Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish is one player excited to face the Dodgers, who have controlled the NL West for most of the last decade. In particular, Darvish is embracing the challenge of facing the Dodgers, including their big acquisition in Shohei Ohtani.

"I've never faced hitter Ohtani, but I will (this year)," Darvish said. "There will be fewer holes in their lineup. I look forward to pitching against the Dodgers,"

Per Yu Darvish via Kyodo News

Darvish is well aware of the huge offseason the Dodgers have had, with their signings of Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. However, Darvish would love for him and the Padres to interfere with those plans.

"Things are getting even more exciting with the Dodgers' signing of Ohtani and (Yoshinobu) Yamamoto," Darvish said. "We want to outperform them as much as possible," 



Per Yu Darvish via Kyodo News

The performance of Darvish will be one of the keys for the Padres to have a shot at upsetting the Dodgers. The five-time All-Star Darvish is one of the top pitchers for San Diego, though his 2023 season was cut short by bone spur in his right elbow. 

Prior to this injury, Darvish posted the second-worst ERA of his career at 4.56. While Darvish and the Padres aren't certain he'll start when the Padres face the Dodgers in Seoul, they'll need better performances than that to get a win.