Darvish (0-1) allowed five runs on six hits and a walk over 6.1 innings Monday, striking out five and taking a loss against the Mets.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran righty coughed up a two-run double to Jeff McNeil in the third inning. That was the only damage against Darvish until the Mets plated three runs in the seventh. It's been a rocky start for him in 2023; he's given up six runs with an 8:5 K:BB through 11.1 frames. Darvish is projected for another tough matchup next week with a home outing against Atlanta.

Darvish did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing one run on three hits and four walks over five innings in an 8-6 loss to Arizona. He struck out three.

EDGE Analysis

Due to limited usage in the World Baseball Classic, Darvish's season debut was pushed back as he needed a bit more time to build up his arm. While this wasn't his most dominant outing in terms of whiffs, and his command was spotty at times, Darvish completed five frames on 91 pitches and left with the lead. He will look to build on this performance his next time out in what projects as a road matchup against the Mets.

Darvish likely won't make his 2023 debut until the Padres' fifth or sixth game of the regular season, which would come April 3 or 4 against the Diamondbacks, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Darvish probably would have been the Opening Day starter for the Padres, but he got limited use while representing Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic and still has some buildup to do here in late March. He's aiming to throw four innings in one of the team's final remaining Cactus League games and could then jump into the San Diego rotation during the second series of the season. Blake Snell looks to be lined up for the Opening Day nod.

Darvish is unlikely to start Opening Day for the Padres, Bob Scanlan of Bally Sports San Diego reports.

EDGE Analysis

Darvish pitched just an inning for Team Japan on Tuesday during the World Baseball Classic, and he may need some time to get ramped up. Scanlan notes that Darvish will report to camp Thursday and that the right-hander ended the offseason throwing 80-pitch bullpens, so it shouldn't take much time to get him lengthened. Darvish may not get the Opening Day assignment, but he should still get a regular load for San Diego and has a chance to be an excellent fantasy option for the 2023 campaign.

Darvish will not start Tuesday for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic final against Team USA, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

EDGE Analysis

It will instead be Shota Imanaga on the mound to begin the contest. Davish was the presumed starter for the contest, and it's likely both he and Shohei Ohtani will be available out of the bullpen for the championship contest with Darvish likely available for multiple innings. Padres manager Bob Melvin has expressed concern about the lack of innings Darvish has received in the tournament, so it'll be interesting to see how much -- if at all -- the 36-year-old pitches against USA on Tuesday.

Padres manager Bob Melvin expressed concern Thursday about Darvish's lack of usage in the World Baseball Classic, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Darvish was brought on in relief for Team Japan in Wednesday's win over Team Italy, and he has logged only five total innings so far in the WBC. Opening Day is just two weeks away, and the Padres are worried that the ace right-hander won't be fully built up out of the gate. Maybe he can be pushed a little longer in the next round(s) of the tournament to mitigate some of the frustration coming out of Padres camp. Japan is set to play a semifinal game Monday.

San Diego manager Bob Melvin said Monday that Darvish, who is currently pitching for Japan in the World Baseball Classic, may not pitch in any Cactus League contests upon his return to the Padres, Sammy Levitt of 97.3 The Fan reports.

EDGE Analysis

Darvish made his spring pitching debut for Japan in the WBC on March 10, allowing three runs (two earned) over three innings. It's unclear how Japan's rotation lines up moving forward, but if Darvish doesn't throw in Thursday's quarterfinal contest against Italy early Thursday, he could potentially pitch in the semifinal or championship game, if Japan advances it that far. In such a scenario, the Padres could opt to rest him for the remainder of the spring slate, especially if they plan to put him on the mound for the team's Opening Day matchup versus Colorado on March 30. The WBC provides a much more competitive atmosphere than Cactus League exhibition contests, so Darvish's participation in the tournament could provide enough of a ramp-up to prepare him for the regular season.

Darvish pitched three innings for Team Japan against Team Korea in the World Baseball Classic on Friday, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits and no walks while striking out one batter.

EDGE Analysis

After inking a six-year extension with San Diego in early February, Darvish took a measured approach to the start of the spring training, as he didn't pitch in any Cactus League contests before joining Japan for the WBC. The veteran right-hander started smoothly in Friday's game against Korea, retiring the first six batters he faced. However, he gave up three runs in the third inning, including two on a home run by Euji Yang. The rough frame shouldn't deter fantasy managers from pursuing Darvish in drafts, where he's generally been going among the top-25 starting pitchers.

Darvish and the Padres agreed Thursday to a six-year, $108 million contract extension, according to MLB.com's AJ Cassavell and Mark Feinsand.

EDGE Analysis

This deal could keep Darvish in San Diego through 2028, pushing into his early-40s. Prior to the new agreement, the 36-year-old right-hander was due $18 million in 2023 with free agency looming next winter. Darvish delivered a stellar 3.10 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 197:37 K:BB across 194.2 regular-season innings (30 starts) last season for the Friars. He also registered a 2.88 ERA and 23:6 K:BB over 25 innings (four starts) in the 2022 playoffs. It's the third different six-year contract of his illustrious MLB career.

Darvish did not factor in the decision during Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Phillies in Game 5 of the NLCS, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out five over six innings.

EDGE Analysis

Darvish recorded his second quality start the NLCS, but the San Diego bullpen was unable to hold on for the victory, eliminating the Padres from the postseason. With two outs in the third inning, a walk followed by a two-run homer from Rhys Hoskins accounted for Darvish's two earned runs, but the 36-year-old righty was still in line for the win until Bryce Harper's go-ahead homer off Robert Suarez. Nonetheless, Darvish had a solid postseason run on the mound, earning a 2.88 ERA with 23 strikeouts over 25 innings, the most he has thrown in a postseason.