(Photo credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)

There was good news on and off the field for the San Diego Padres on Sunday night.

Not only did they win a weekend series with the Texas Rangers by picking up a 4-1 decision, they regained the services of the pitcher who would have been their Opening Day starter before elbow problems sidelined him during spring training.

That pitcher, Yu Darvish, will be activated Monday to start the opener of a four-game series with the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks. The 38-year old Darvish cleared the final hurdles to return to action for his 2025 debut with four innings in a simulated game Tuesday and a short bullpen session on Saturday.

'We always have an open day on the schedule for Yu Darvish to start,' San Diego manager Mike Shildt said. 'So we're excited to have that happen. It really did get back to him just checking all the boxes.'

Darvish went 7-3 in 16 starts last year, recording a 3.31 ERA, and struck out 78 batters in 81 2/3 innings. He was sidelined for about half the year with an elbow injury, followed by time away to attend to a personal matter.

Darvish's return comes at an opportune time for the Padres, who have been stretched thin in the rotation by injuries to Opening Day starter Michael King and Triple-A call-up Ryan Bergert.

Dylan Cease, a 14-game winner last season, has scuffled most of this year, going 3-8 with a 4.62 ERA. But San Diego remains in the National League's final wild-card spot, thanks largely to Nick Pivetta's career year. The All-Star snub is 9-2 with a 3.25 ERA.

Darvish is 9-4 with a 3.63 ERA in 19 career starts against Arizona. It's likely he'll be limited to 75 pitches and perhaps five innings on Monday.

The Diamondbacks will counter with right-hander Zac Gallen (6-9, 5.45 ERA), their Opening Day starter who's endured the roughest season of his seven-year career. He looked more like himself Tuesday in an 8-2 win over San Francisco, striking out 10 and allowing just one earned run over seven innings.

Gallen is 4-3 with a 3.38 ERA in 13 career starts against the Padres, although he's yielded 12 homers in 74 2/3 innings.

Arizona stands 4 1/2 games behind San Diego for the final NL wild-card spot after a 4-0 loss Sunday to Kansas City ended a 10-game homestand at 3-7. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said being swept last weekend by Miami set the tone for the homestand.

'You go 3-7 at home in a space we feel very comfortable playing in with great fans and it doesn't work out? It's really frustrating,' he said.

The Diamondbacks own one of MLB's best and most powerful offenses, ranking third in runs at 461 and third in homers at 132. But their pitching staff has been poor, as it enters this series 26th in ERA at 4.72 while rating 22nd in batting average and 22nd in WHIP. The loss of major offseason acquisition Corbin Burnes (elbow injury) and three starters with ERAs over 5.00 hasn't helped.

Arizona took two of three games from the Padres last month in Phoenix.

--Field Level Media