As the stretch run of the 2024 regular season continues, here are three things well be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today: 1. Darvish returns to the mound: Veteran right-hander is scheduled to make his first start for the Padres since May tonight against the Tigers. The 38-year-old mi sed time due to hamstring and elbow i sues earlier this summer before being placed on the restricted list due to an undisclosed family matter back in July. Prior to his lengthy absence, the veteran looked to be rebounding from a fairly pedestrian 2023 season. After posting a lackluster 4.56 ERA last year, Darvish impre sed with a 3.20 ERA and 3.54 FIP in 11 starts Tyler Ferguson Jersey this year before hitting the shelf. Since being traded to the Padres after a second-place finish in NL Cy Young award voting with the Cubs in 2020, Darvish has put together a 3.80 ERA with a 3.69 FIP and a 26.2% strikeout rate. With the Padres firmly in the playoff picture, both Darvish and fellow veteran figure to factor into the clubs postseason rotation alongside and . 2. Yankees weighing late-inning options? As noted by overnight, Yankees manager refused to answer a question regarding right-hander status as the clubs closer following yesterdays heartbreaking lo s where Holmes surrendered a walk-off grand slam to Rangers rookie . Boone said during his postgame pre ser the club plans to talk through it and do what we think is the best thing but didnt want to say more while the team was still raw and emotional following the lo s. Holmes, who earned his second career All-Star nod this season, sports a 3.27 ERA and an excellent 2.91 FIP in 55 innings of work. Despite those strong rate numbers, however, he hasnt exactly been a shutdown ninth-inning option in his third year as the clubs closer. Hes converted just 29 of his 40 save opportunities. Those 11 blown saves lead the majors, well ahead of even other struggling closers like and , both of whom have blown six saves in 29 chances. 3. Twins roster move incoming: As noted by yesterday, the Twins are expected to recall right-hander before todays game against the Rays. Varland is poised to pitch in a multi-inning relief role after scheduled starter , who hasnt thrown more than two innings in an outing with the big league club this year. After todays scheduled outing, its not clear if Varland will pitch for the club in a bullpen role down the stretch or remain stretched out as a starting option, but Nightengale suggests that the 26-year-old figures to remain with the club going forward rather than return to the minor leagues. Varland entered the year as a rotation candidate in Minnesota, with a career 4.40 ERA (96 ERA+) in 94 innings as a swing option at the big league level. Unfortunately for the righty, he surrendered a disastrous 9.18 ERA in four starts back in April and was quickly demoted to the minors. Hes looked much better since, with a 3.60 ERA and 4.33 FIP in 20 innings of work at the big league level while shuttling between the majors and minors, but hes been leapfrogged by , and on the Twins rotation depth chart. Minnesota will need to make a corresponding active roster move prior to todays game to accommodate the addition of Varland. Ken Holtzman Jersey