Padres News: Yu Darvish Trending Downwards as Friars Struggles Return

Can the righty ace find his grove once again?

The San Diego Padres find themselves, once again, in a bit of a rut. After being just one game away from .500, they will now have to climb their way back up, and they have yet to make it easy on themselves. Still, the Padres are knocking on the door, and it will only be a matter of time before they bust that door open.

Their starting pitching has been a bright spot for the Friars these past couple of weeks, but as of late, you can't say the same about their righty ace Yu Darvish.

Darvish will most likely remain with the Friars for the rest of his career after a signed a six-year, $108 million extension before the start of the season. However, his first year of that extension hasn't been too great. He started off the season well, but it's fallen off the rails quickly. 

Darvish began the season with five quality starts in his first seven outings. Over 42⅔ innings, he had a 3.16 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. Over his past seven outings (37⅓ innings), he has one quality start, a 6.75 ERA and 1.39 WHIP.

(Via San Diego Tribune)

In his four starts in June, he has a hideous 5.40 ERA, a 2-2 record, and has allowed 22 hits, 14 runs, two home runs, and 26 strikeouts in 23.1 innings pitched. Darvish has not looked great, and it's concerning. 

Overall, the five-time All-Star has done great in his three seasons as a Friar, but it doesn't look well for him at the moment. We won't count out Darvish just yet, but it's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel right now. 

If he can't figure it out, could the Padres afford to itch him in big lat season games?