San Diego Padres Get Veteran Pitcher Back From Restricted List

The San Diego Padres entered spring training figuring their starting rotation hinged largely on the success of veteran Yu Darvish.

Along with Joe Musgrove, Darvish opened camp as one of only two players on the Padres’ staff who had made an All-Star team in the past. Musgrove had made one, Darvish five.

When Darvish was sidelined with a groin strain in May, the injury figured to deal a serious blow to the Padres’ chances. His absence was further clouded by a trip to the restricted list for a personal matter that was never disclosed by the team.

Darvish was placed on the restricted list July 6, and he hasn’t collected a paycheck since. Until Friday.

The Padres announced that Darvish would be rejoining the team in San Diego and going on the 15-day injured list, a procedural move that will allow him to rejoin the active roster in September.

Thanks to unexpected depth in its lineup, rotation and bullpen, San Diego is 4.5 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West and would make the postseason as a Wild Card team if the season ended today.

More to come on this story.