Yu Darvish Lays Out Biggest Factor For Padres Success This Season

Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove have to put their health first.

When pitchers and catchers reported to spring training on Sunday, only two starting pitchers were certain.

Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove are the only two starters that manager Mike Shildt can fully say have a spot in the rotation.

Both are coming off injuries that ended their 2023 seasons early and because of that, they have to put their health first

“Obviously, it’s important for myself and Joe to be healthy throughout the season. That’s obviously what we’re aiming for and looking forward to making that happen.”

Yu Darvish via San Diego Union-Tribune

Before last season, both had made at least 30 starts in three straight years. 

Even with his throwing just 97.1 innings while struggling with multiple maladies last season, just nine MLB pitchers have thrown as many innings as Musgrove (669.2) and had a lower ERA than his 3.45 mark since 2019. Just four pitchers have thrown more innings than Darvish (752) while posting a lower ERA (3.71) than he has in that span.

Kevin Acee via San Diego Union-Tribune

The Padres have a plethora of young arms looking to replace 503.1 innings from starting pitchers no longer with San Diego, and the spring has to be a time for the Padres to figure out how the rotation will support their top two starters.