San Diego Padres pitcher Yu Darvish delivers in opposition to the Dodgers in Recreation 2 of the NLDS on Sunday.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Occasions)
Aside from the three months he really performed for the staff in 2017, Yu Darvish, the Padres’ starter for Recreation 5, has spent most of his main league profession tormenting the Dodgers.
In 15 regular-season begins in opposition to them, Darvish has a 2.27 ERA (his second lowest in opposition to any staff, behind solely Philadelphia) and 104 strikeouts in 91⅓ innings. He’s gained each of his postseason conferences with the Dodgers, together with his seven-inning, one-run gem in Recreation 2 final weekend.
Although the 38-year-old not has essentially the most overpowering stuff, his repute for being a “crafty” pitcher, as Ohtani put it Thursday, nonetheless holds up.
In Recreation 2, Darvish registered solely three strikeouts however restricted the Dodgers to a few hits along with his eight-pitch combine.
“Just being ready to hit,” Roberts stated of how the Dodgers can regulate in Recreation 5. “He doesn’t give in, but when he throws his slider, curveball in the strike zone, or makes a mistake with the fastball, we’ve got to be ready to hit it. I do feel if we can put pressure on him early, that puts us in a good position.”
One notable blemish on Darvish’s résumé: His 0-2 report in winner-take-all postseason video games.
In his 2012 rookie season, Darvish was the dropping pitcher within the American League wild-card recreation with the Texas Rangers, regardless of giving up solely three runs (two earned) in 6⅔ innings. After which, in fact, there was his notorious Recreation 7 begin for the Dodgers within the 2017 World Sequence, when he was rocked for 5 runs (4 earned) in lower than two innings by the Houston Astros.
Does that reminiscence nonetheless hang-out Darvish?
“Obviously, I remember about that time,” he stated Thursday. “But it’s like, how many years ago was that? So … I don’t go focus on that time, basically. Plus, I am wearing a different uniform right now.”
