Yu Darvish has started more postseason games than any pitcher in San Diego Padres history. Even at the age of 39, after a second straight season of battling through injuries, the club has no problem running him out in a winner take all Game 3 against the Chicago Cubs.

"It's nice to have a pillar like Yu Darvish on the mound for an elimination game," says manager Mike Shildt. "We've got a lot of guys we'd be comfortable with but we're really comfortable and confident with Darvish."

This will be Darvish's 14th career playoff start, and his fifth for the Padres. He has a pretty good track record. Yu has pitched to a 3.77 ERA with four times as many strikeouts as walks, and he excelled in this very spot just a year ago. In Game 5 of the 2024 National League Division Series against the Dodger

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