Yu Darvish impressive as he sets a milestone for MLB pitchers

In this modern, StatCast-driven era of data overload, nearly everything that is done - or can possibly be done - on a baseball field is codified. Numbers can be twisted and bent, squeezing out records in the most unlikely of places. Many can be mundane on closer inspection, but the San Diego Padres have just seen one enter the books that is impressive no matter how you look at it.

Yu Darvish is a pitcher whose name will always be linked with strikeouts. Even as injuries and personal matters have slowed his recent seasons, his dominance when he’s on the mound is hard to ignore. This Monday was a reminder of that.

Darvish, the San Diego Padres’ ace, made his most recent start against the Houston Astros, leading his team to a 3-1 victory. For the first time since returning to the lineup earlier this month, he completed six full innings, giving up only three hits, two walks, and - most importantly - zero earned runs. He also struck out three, his highest number since May. This performance might not have been vintage Darvish, but it was enough to keep an impressive streak alive.

Here’s the stat: in every one of his 280 major league appearances since his debut in 2012, Darvish has recorded at least two strikeouts. It’s the longest such streak in modern baseball History, going back to 1901. No other pitcher has done this at any point in their career, and that’s saying something when you consider the names that have graced the mound over the last century.

Darvish has always been a strikeout artist. In 2013, he led the American League with 277 strikeouts in a career-high 32 starts for the Texas Rangers. Over his MLB career, he’s punched out more than 200 batters in three seasons and narrowly missed the mark in two others. It’s safe to say his numbers would be even more eye-popping if he hadn’t had to battle injuries over the years.

What makes this streak even more remarkable is Darvish’s longevity. He’s been pitching at a high level for over a decade in MLB, and before that, he dominated Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in Japan. Between the two leagues, he’s racked up nearly 3,250 strikeouts - 1,994 in MLB and 1,250 in NPB. His career includes five All-Star selections in MLB, two Pacific League MVP awards in Japan, and three strikeout titles in NPB. At 38, Darvish’s arm has seen a lot of mileage, but he continues to show what makes him special when he’s healthy.

That’s good news for the Padres, who could use his arm down the stretch. The team is fighting for a postseason spot, and Darvish is no stranger to the pressure. The last time the Padres made the playoffs in 2022, Darvish played a crucial role, recording 23 strikeouts across four starts with a 2.88 ERA as San Diego made it to the National League Championship Series. If they’re going to make another deep run, Darvish’s ability to keep opposing hitters off-balance with his wide array of pitches and, of course, his knack for the punchout, will be key.

There’s a lot of uncertainty in baseball, especially when it comes to the health of pitchers, but one thing remains constant: Yu Darvish, when he takes the mound, is going to strike people out. That’s just what he does. And 280 straight games prove it.