When the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired four-time All-Star Yu Darvish at the 2017 non-waiver trade deadline, he was supposed to be that piece that put them over the top to win their first World Series since 1988.
For a while it was looking like that was the case as Darvish went 4-3 with a 3.44 ERA, 3.38 FIP and 1.15 WHIP after being acquired by the Dodgers. He then was stellar in the Nation League Division Series and Championship Series, allowing a combined two runs and striking out 14 in 11.1 innings.
But everything went south against the Houston Astros in the World Series. Darvish gave up a combined nine runs (eight earned) in 3.1 innings across his two starts, including the deciding Game 7.
Following his final flame out, former Astros designated hitter Carlos Beltran intimated Darvish tipped his pitches. Other Astros players also suggested that was the case.
Now a member of the Chicago Cubs after signing a six-year, $126 million deal in the offseason, Darvish faced his former team in his first spring start on Tuesday.
After his outing against the Dodgers, Darvish said he wasn’t certain if tipped pitches were an issue in the World Series and he gave the Astros their due, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“Obviously, the Astros are a great, strong team,” Darvish said through his interpreter. “I don’t really know, honestly, if that was it or if the Astros are simply a good team. I think it was partly me not being at my top level in the World Series.
Whether he was tipping pitches or not, Darvish has moved on to a new chapter in his career. He’s also made it known that his main goal now is to beat the Dodgers.
Darvish had some control issues in his first start against the Dodgers, walking two and throwing two wild pitches to allow a run to score in the first inning. He ended up throwing two hitless inning, however, striking out four in the Cubs’ 9-5 win.
