SAN DIEGO — Fresh off taking two of three games from the Rangers, the San Diego Padres will activate right-handed pitcher Yu Darvish from the injured list to make his season debut Monday night at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Japanese star has been sidelined since spring training by right elbow inflammation.

Monday, in his 2025 debut, the broad-shouldered, fifth-year Padre showed enough fastball to shorten reaction times and play up his other pitches. The best age-and-workload comparison to Darvish is Clayton Kershaw, his friend and former Dodgers teammate.

Darvish cleared the final hurdles to return to action with four innings in a simulated game Tuesday and a short bullpen session on Saturday.