San Diego Padres pitcher Yu Darvish (back) is expected to come off of the injured list on Thursday and face the Los Angeles Dodgers, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reported. Darvish has been on the IL for nearly two weeks with low back tightness. The 35-year-old right-hander has gone 7-7 with a 3.70 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP over 23 starts this season. In his last appearance against LA, Darvish allowed only one run on six hits over a six-inning outing.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish (back) went through a bullpen session and did pitchers fielding practice drills on Tuesday. The team is hopeful that he'll be able to be activated from the injured list to start Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, the team hasn't officially named him the starter for Thursday's game quite yet. Darvish has been on the injured list for nearly two weeks due to lower back tightness. Padres manager Jayce Tingler told reporters on Tuesday, "I think we're getting close to getting back into game action, but no date as of now or nothing to announce right now." Darvish has gone 7-7 with a 3.70 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP over 23 starts on the year. Expect for Tingler and the Padres to have an update on the plan for Darvish within the next 24 hours.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish (back) is expected to be activated from the injured list and make his next start sometime during the team's upcoming series with the Dodgers, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union Tribune. Darvish landed on the 10-day injured list following his last start in which he was forced to exit early due to lower back tightness. It looks like it will be a minimal stay for Darvish, who has been solid in his first season with San Diego by going 7-7 with a 3.70 ERA, 1.028 WHIP and 29.9 percent strikeout rate over 131 1/3 innings of work. It's unclear which day he'll be activated and start, but he should be back this week barring any setbacks. Managers should keep a close eye out for the announcement of when he'll start next.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish (back) threw a bullpen session on Friday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reported. Darvish exited his last start due to lower back tightness but has so far avoided the 10-day injured list. The 35-year-old right-hander is 7-7 on the season with a 3.70 ERA, 1.028 WHIP, and 158 strikeouts over 131 1/3 innings. Throwing a bullpen is a good sign, so fantasy managers should keep an eye out for more potential updates this weekend.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish (back) is expected to be placed on the 10-day injured list, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union Tribune. Darvish had exited his last outing on Thursday due to lower back tightness. Over 23 starts with San Diego this season, Darvish is 7-7 with a 3.70 ERA, 1.028 WHIP and 29.9 percent strikeout rate over 131 1/3 innings of work. It's unclear just how long Darvish will be out, but it hopefully shouldn't require much over the minimum stay. Managers should keep an eye out for updates later in the week on his condition.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish left Thursday's start early with lower back tightness, according to the team. The 34-year-old was lit up before being pulled with two outs in the third, allowing five earned runs, six hits, one homer, and one walk while striking out four. The five-time All-Star spent time on the injured list in July with hip inflammation that also triggered back tightness, and this flare-up could mean he is not 100%. Darvish hasn't been himself over his past 15 starts, posting a 5.46 ERA and surrendering 15 homers. Fantasy managers should be prepared for a return to the injured list for the right-hander.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish had a rough time on the mound in July. Over five starts, he posted a 7.36 ERA. He failed to post a quality start in any of his five outings and gave up a total of nine home runs over 25.2 innings. Darvish had been cruising all season before the calendar turned to July. His season-long numbers still look solid overall as he has a 3.48 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 29% strikeout rate over 21 starts. He has a 3.14 xERA that ranks in the 83rd percentile and he's done a good job of limiting walks with a 5.9% walk rate that ranks in the 84th percentile. Hopefully he'll be able to right the ship in his next trip to the mound on Saturday against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

A look at what’s happening around the majors Saturday: ___ EIGHT IS ENOUGH Joey Votto has homered in seven straight games and the Cincinnati Reds star can match a major league record by going deep against the New York Mets. Votto connected for a solo shot to center field off Mets reliever Drew Smith during Cincinnati's 6-2 victory Friday night at Citi Field. The six-time All-Star and 2010 NL MVP became the eighth player to homer in at least seven straight games and first since Kendrys Morales did it for the Toronto Blue Jays in August 2018. Dale Long (1956), Don Mattingly (1987) and Ken Griffey Jr. (1993) are the only players to go deep in eight consecutive games. Votto has nine homers and 15 RBIs during his streak, which began last Saturday and includes just one hit that wasn’t a home run — an infield single against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday. ___ REVISED ROSTERS Plenty of big-name players are in different uniforms this weekend after a whirlwind of activity before MLB's trade deadline... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Held hitless into the eighth inning by Domingo Germán and looking feeble, Alex Verdugo and the Boston Red Sox suddenly erupted for five runs and stormed past the New York Yankees 5-4 Sunday. Verdugo opened the eighth with a long double for Boston’s first hit. Later, Kiké Hernández slid home headfirst on Xander Bogaerts’ sacrifice fly with the go-ahead run to cap the rally. The Red Sox won for the 10th time in 13 games against the Yankees and reclaimed first place in the AL East, a game ahead of Tampa Bay. New York fell nine games behind Boston. Boston trailed 4-0 when Verdugo doubled to deep right, and Germán was lifted after the hit. Jonathan Loaisiga (7-4) relieved, and Boston broke loose with four straight hits. Hunter Renfroe had an RBI double, Christian Vázquez singled home a run and Hernández followed with an RBI double, cutting it to 4-3. Zack Britton relieved and pinch-hitter Kevin Plawecki’s groundout plated the tying run. Hernández hustled hard and beat right fielder... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Held hitless into the eighth inning by Domingo Germán and looking feeble, Alex Verdugo and the Boston Red Sox suddenly erupted for five runs and stormed past the New York Yankees 5-4 Sunday. Verdugo opened the eighth with a long double for Boston’s first hit. Later, Kiké Hernández slid home headfirst on Xander Bogaerts’ sacrifice fly with the go-ahead run to cap the rally. The Red Sox won for the 10th time in 13 games against the Yankees and reclaimed first place in the AL East, a game ahead of Tampa Bay. New York fell nine games behind Boston. Boston trailed 4-0 when Verdugo doubled to deep right, and Germán was lifted after the hit. Jonathan Loaisiga (7-4) relieved, and Boston broke loose with four straight hits. Hunter Renfroe had an RBI double, Christian Vázquez singled home a run and Hernández followed with an RBI double, cutting it to 4-3. Zack Britton relieved and pinch-hitter Kevin Plawecki’s groundout plated the tying run. Hernández hustled hard and beat right fielder... [More]

July 26 1928 — Bob Meusel of the New York Yankees hit for the cycle for the third time in his career. The Yankees scored 11 runs in the top of the 12th to beat the Detroit Tigers 12-1 in 12 innings. 1939 — The New York Yankees tied a major league record by scoring in every inning against the St. Louis Browns. Bill Dickey hit three home runs in the 14-1 win. 1962 — Warren Spahn of the Milwaukee Braves set the National League record for home runs by a pitcher when he hit his 31st off New York’s Craig Anderson. Spahn dealt the Mets their 11th straight loss with a 6-1 victory. 1970 — Johnny Bench of the Cincinnati Reds hit three straight homers off Steve Carlton of the St. Louis Cardinals. On the same day, Orlando Cepeda of the Atlanta Braves connected for three consecutive homers in an 8-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs. 1984 — Pete Rose of the Montreal Expos tied Ty Cobb on the career singles list, No. 3,052, with a base hit in the eighth inning in a 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors today: ___ SHUFFLE OUTTA BUFFALO Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Blue Jays are set to play their final home game in Buffalo when they host the Red Sox. The teams were rained out Tuesday and will make it up as part of a doubleheader Aug. 7 in Toronto. The Blue Jays will return to Toronto for a homestand beginning July 30 after the Canadian government granted them an exemption to the U.S.-Canada travel ban. The Blue Jays haven’t played at Rogers Centre since 2019 because of coronavirus protocols. Toronto began this season hosting home games at its spring training site in Dunedin, Florida. The Blue Jays then moved to Sahlen Field, home of their Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo, in June. ON A ROLL Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks (12-4, 3.65 ERA) tries for his 11th straight win when Chicago faces Adam Wainwright (7-6, 3.61) and the rival Cardinals in St. Louis. Hendricks is the first Cubs pitcher to go at least 12 consecutive starts without a loss since... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Freddie Freeman homered off Yu Darvish in the sixth inning, Touki Toussaint allowed one run and three hits in his season debut, and the Atlanta Braves beat the San Diego Padres 2-1 on Tuesday night. Toussaint, who missed the first 3½ months rehabbing a right shoulder strain, retired the first seven batters he faced before walking Victor Caratini in the third. He didn’t allow a hit until Manny Machado doubled with one out in the fourth. The Padres tied it 1-all in the fourth when Jake Cronenworth was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on Machado’s double and scored on Tommy Pham’s sacrifice fly. Freeman made it 2-1 by taking Darvish deep over the wall in left field with an opposite-field shot, his 22nd homer. Toussaint (1-0) walked two and struck out five in 6 2/3 innings. Darvish (7-4) was making his first start since July 8 after a stint on the injured list due to left hip inflammation. He allowed four hits and two runs with two walks and three strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Freddie Freeman homered off Yu Darvish in the sixth inning, Touki Toussaint allowed one run and three hits in his season debut, and the Atlanta Braves beat the San Diego Padres 2-1 on Tuesday night. Toussaint, who missed the first 3½ months rehabbing a right shoulder strain, retired the first seven batters he faced before walking Victor Caratini in the third. He didn’t allow a hit until Manny Machado doubled with one out in the fourth. The Padres tied it 1-all in the fourth when Jake Cronenworth was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on Machado’s double and scored on Tommy Pham’s sacrifice fly. Freeman made it 2-1 by taking Darvish deep over the wall in left field with an opposite-field shot, his 22nd homer. Toussaint (1-0) walked two and struck out five in 6 2/3 innings. Darvish (7-4) was making his first start since July 8 after a stint on the injured list due to left hip inflammation. He allowed four hits and two runs with two walks and three strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Freddie Freeman homered off Yu Darvish in the sixth inning, Touki Toussaint allowed one run and three hits in his season debut, and the Atlanta Braves beat the San Diego Padres 2-1 on Tuesday night. Toussaint, who missed the first 3½ months rehabbing a right shoulder strain, retired the first seven batters he faced before walking Victor Caratini in the third. He didn’t allow a hit until Manny Machado doubled with one out in the fourth. The Padres tied it 1-all in the fourth when Jake Cronenworth was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on Machado’s double and scored on Tommy Pham’s sacrifice fly. Freeman made it 2-1 by taking Darvish deep over the wall in left field with an opposite-field shot, his 22nd homer. Toussaint (1-0) walked two and struck out five in 6 2/3 innings. Darvish (7-4) was making his first start since July 8 after a stint on the injured list due to left hip inflammation. He allowed four hits and two runs with two walks and three strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Freddie Freeman homered off Yu Darvish in the sixth inning, Touki Toussaint allowed one run and three hits in his season debut, and the Atlanta Braves beat the San Diego Padres 2-1 on Tuesday night. Toussaint, who missed the first 3½ months rehabbing a right shoulder strain, retired the first seven batters he faced before walking Victor Caratini in the third. He didn’t allow a hit until Manny Machado doubled with one out in the fourth. The Padres tied it 1-all in the fourth when Jake Cronenworth was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on Machado’s double and scored on Tommy Pham’s sacrifice fly. Freeman made it 2-1 by taking Darvish deep over the wall in left field with an opposite-field shot, his 22nd homer. Toussaint (1-0) walked two and struck out five in 6 2/3 innings. Darvish (7-4) was making his first start since July 8 after a stint on the injured list due to left hip inflammation. He allowed four hits and two runs with two walks and three strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors on Wednesday: ___ SHUFFLE OUTTA BUFFALO Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Blue Jays are set to play their final home game in Buffalo when they host the Red Sox. The teams were rained out Tuesday and will make it up as part of a doubleheader Aug. 7 in Toronto. The Blue Jays will return to Toronto for a homestand beginning July 30 after the Canadian government granted them an exemption to the U.S.-Canada travel ban. The Blue Jays haven’t played at Rogers Centre since 2019 because of coronavirus protocols. Toronto began this season hosting home games at its spring training site in Dunedin, Florida. The Blue Jays then moved to Sahlen Field, home of their Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo, in June. ON A ROLL Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks (12-4, 3.65 ERA) tries for his 11th straight win when struggling Chicago faces Adam Wainwright (7-6, 3.61) and the rival Cardinals in St. Louis. Hendricks is the first Cubs pitcher to go at least 12 consecutive starts... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Freddie Freeman homered off Yu Darvish in the sixth inning, Touki Toussaint allowed one run and three hits in his season debut, and the Atlanta Braves beat the San Diego Padres 2-1 on Tuesday night. Toussaint, who missed the first 3½ months rehabbing a right shoulder strain, retired the first seven batters he faced before walking Victor Caratini in the third. He didn’t allow a hit until Manny Machado doubled with one out in the fourth. The Padres tied it 1-all in the fourth when Jake Cronenworth was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on Machado’s double and scored on Tommy Pham’s sacrifice fly. Freeman made it 2-1 by taking Darvish deep over the wall in left field with an opposite-field shot, his 22nd homer. Toussaint (1-0) walked two and struck out five in 6 2/3 innings. Darvish (7-4) was making his first start since July 8 after a stint on the injured list due to left hip inflammation. He allowed four hits and two runs with two walks and three strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Freddie Freeman homered off Yu Darvish in the sixth inning, Touki Toussaint allowed one run and three hits in his season debut, and the Atlanta Braves beat the San Diego Padres 2-1 on Tuesday night. Toussaint, who missed the first 3½ months rehabbing a right shoulder strain, retired the first seven batters he faced before walking Victor Caratini in the third. He didn’t allow a hit until Manny Machado doubled with one out in the fourth. The Padres tied it 1-all in the fourth when Jake Cronenworth was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on Machado’s double and scored on Tommy Pham’s sacrifice fly. Freeman made it 2-1 by taking Darvish deep over the wall in left field with an opposite-field shot, his 22nd homer. Toussaint (1-0) walked two and struck out five in 6 2/3 innings. Darvish (7-4) was making his first start since July 8 after a stint on the injured list due to left hip inflammation. He allowed four hits and two runs with two walks and three strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.... [More]

A look at what's happening around the majors on today: ___ HIS TURN Major league home run leader Shohei Ohtani is set to pitch for the Angels in his first outing since tossing a perfect first inning in the All-Star Game. The two-way star hit his 34th home run Sunday in a 7-4 loss to Seattle. Ohtani (4-1, 3.49 ERA) is scheduled to start when Los Angeles begins a six-game road trip in Oakland. NO DERBY DOWNER Some players have declined to participate in the All-Star Home Run Derby over the years because they say the exertion can wear them out and wrecks their swing. Not so for Juan Soto. The Washington star has hit three home runs in three games since taking part in the Derby on Tuesday night at Coors Field. Soto connected Sunday in an 8-7 win over the Padres. Soto hopes to keep up his power surge when the Nationals open a series at home against Miami. WELL EARNED AL ERA leader Lance Lynn makes his first start for the White Sox since signing a $38 million, two-year contract through 2023.... [More]