PHILADELPHIA — On Tuesday afternoon, about 75 miles north of San Diego on the Padres’ affiliate in Lake Elsinore, Yu Darvish confronted Single-A hitters in a simulated recreation. He threw 4 innings and 64 pitches. Within the present part of his buildup from a proper elbow damage, it marks the third time Darvish has confronted hitters in a game-like setting.
What comes subsequent? The Padres received’t say. As with every thing pertaining to Darvish’s restoration, it’s completely contingent on how he’s feeling bodily. But when all goes properly, there’s an opportunity the setting — and the opposition — may change very quickly. Massive league hitters at Petco Park, maybe.
The Padres may use him.
With a 4-0 loss to the Phillies on Monday night time at Residents Financial institution Park, the Padres completed June with a 13-15 file, their first dropping month of the season. Their struggles are not at all a product of their pitching employees. They principally haven’t hit sufficient. (Monday’s displaying towards Philadelphia ace Zack Wheeler was excusable, given the opponent, however San Diego’s .679 June OPS ranked twenty fifth within the Majors.)
However that’s a separate problem. There are additionally cracks displaying within the Padres’ beginning rotation. Michael King stays sidelined with a proper shoulder/lengthy thoracic nerve damage. He’s slowly starting to ramp up, however his return is a good distance away.
Which leaves query marks in the back of the rotation. Matt Waldron — and his knuckleball — made his return to an enormous league mound on Monday night time. He’d missed the primary two months of the season with a strained left indirect, then was optioned to Triple-A El Paso.
In his season debut, Waldron used a heavy dose of that knuckleball. He threw his signature pitch 74 % of the time — probably the most he’d used it in an enormous league recreation in any of his earlier begins. Earlier than the season, Waldron mentioned he wished to throw the pitch extra regularly. He lived as much as it.
The outcomes had been blended. For probably the most half, Waldron restricted onerous contact. He additionally walked six, as he struggled to command that knuckler all through. In the long run, Waldron allowed 4 runs over 4 2/3 innings.
“I can’t simply restrict harm however then stroll all people,” Waldron mentioned. “Very irritating. I felt like I considerably gave us an opportunity to win. However on the finish of the day … I can’t surrender that many [walks]. It’s not ok.”
It’s unclear whether or not Waldron will get one other likelihood to treatment these points. The Padres have a scheduled off-day on Thursday, and if Darvish had been prepared, they might theoretically alter their rotation so as to add him for the following flip by way of.
However San Diego has been methodical about each facet of Darvish’s restoration. He hasn’t pitched this season after coping with proper elbow irritation in the midst of Spring Coaching. When he seemed to be on the verge of a return in Could, Darvish had a setback in a rehab begin.
At this level, it appears unlikely that Darvish would make one other rehab begin. He and the Padres favor the managed setting of a simulated recreation the place they will monitor his workload. Possibly he will get another of these. Possibly he is lastly prepared for a return.
After their collection in Philadelphia, the Padres have a 10-game homestand earlier than the All-Star break. That might be the best time to ease Darvish again into the rotation, realizing there’s a built-in relaxation after that stretch.
Once more, that’s contingent on Darvish’s elbow. Within the meantime, Waldron stepped into the spot beforehand held by right-hander Ryan Bergert, who’s on the best way again from the fitting forearm bruise he sustained on a tough line-drive comebacker final week. Bergert is taking part in catch and is anticipated to be accessible when his minimal 15-day IL stint is up in early July.
Which may depart the Padres with some choices. Nick Pivetta, Dylan Stop and Randy Vásquez have been within the rotation all season. Behind them, Stephen Kolek has seemingly cemented his rotation place together with his current efficiency. That leaves one spot.
“It all the time could be considerably fluid,” Shildt mentioned. “We’ve had Kolek who’s taken the ball and actually not given it again to anyone else and pitched very well. Bergert was attending to that spot when he obtained damage. However we do have Darvish, who’s knocking again on the door.”
