As the stretch run of the 2024 routine season continues, here are 3 things we’ll be watching on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Darvish go back to the mound:

Veteran right-hander Yu Darvish is set up to make his very first start for the Padres given that May tonight versus the Tigers. The 38-year-old missed out on time due to hamstring and elbow concerns previously this summer season before being put on the limited list due to a concealed household matter back in July.

Prior to his prolonged lack, the veteran seemed rebounding from a relatively pedestrian 2023 season. After publishing an uninspired 4.56 period in 2015, Darvish pleased with a 3.20 period and 3.54 FIP in 11 starts this year before striking the rack. Since being traded to the Padres after a second-place surface in NL Cy Young award ballot with the Cubs in 2020, Darvish has actually assembled a 3.80 period with a 3.69 FIP and a 26.2% strikeout rate. With the Padres securely in the playoff image, both Darvish and fellow veteran Joe Musgrove figure to element into the club’s postseason rotation along with Dylan Cease and Michael King.

2. Yankees weighing late-inning choices?

As kept in mind by The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner overnight, Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone declined to respond to a concern concerning right-hander Clay Holmes’ status as the club’s better list below the other day’s heartbreaking loss where Holmes gave up a walk-off grand slam to Rangers novice Wyatt Langford. Boone stated throughout his postgame presser the club prepares to “talk through it and do what we think is the best thing” however didn’t wish to state more while the group was still “raw and emotional” following the loss.

Holmes, who made his 2nd profession All-Star nod this season, sports a 3.27 period and an outstanding 2.91 FIP in 55 innings of work. Despite those strong rate numbers, nevertheless, he hasn’t precisely been a shutdown ninth-inning alternative in his 3rd year as the club’s closer. He’s transformed simply 29 of his 40 save chances. Those 11 blown conserves lead the majors, well ahead of even other having a hard time closers like Craig Kimbrel and David Bednar, both of whom have actually blown 6 conserves in 29 opportunities.

3. Twins lineup relocation inbound:

As kept in mind by Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune the other day, the Twins are anticipated to remember right-hander Louie Varland before today’s video game versus the Rays. Varland is poised to pitch in a multi-inning relief function after set up starter Ronny Henriquez, who hasn’t tossed more than 2 innings in an outing with the major league club this year. After today’s set up trip, it’s unclear if Varland will pitch for the club in a bullpen function down the stretch or stay extended as a beginning alternative, however Nightengale recommends that the 26-year-old figures to stay with the club moving forward instead of go back to the minors.

Varland got in the year as a rotation prospect in Minnesota, with a profession 4.40 AGE (96 AGE+) in 94 innings as a swing alternative at the major league level. Unfortunately for the righty, he gave up a dreadful 9.18 period in 4 starts back in April and was rapidly benched to the minors. He’s looked better given that, with a 3.60 period and 4.33 FIP in 20 innings of work at the major league level while shuttling in between the majors and minors, however he’s been leapfrogged by Simeon Woods Richardson, David Festa and Zebby Matthews on the Twins’ rotation depth chart. Minnesota will require to make a matching active lineup relocation prior to today’s video game to accommodate the addition of Varland.