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Yu Darvish gets Opening Day nod for Texas Rangers

By The Sports Xchange
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish receives a pat on the chest from Rougned Odor in the fourth inning of game 2 of the American League Division Series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas on October 7, 2016. Toronto defeated Texas 11-1. Photo by Mike Stone/UPI
1 of 3 | Texas Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish receives a pat on the chest from Rougned Odor in the fourth inning of game 2 of the American League Division Series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas on October 7, 2016. Toronto defeated Texas 11-1. Photo by Mike Stone/UPI | License Photo

Right-hander Yu Darvish will be the Opening Day starter for the Texas Rangers, manager Jeff Banister announced Saturday.

Darvish, 30, will face the Cleveland Indians on April 3 at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas, becoming the ninth different Opening Day starter for the Rangers in the past nine years.

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It will be the first Opening Day start for Darvish with the Rangers, although he did it five times in Japan. He was named the Opening Day starter in 2014 but was sidelined by neck stiffness and started the season on the disabled list.

"We feel he is in a great place," Banister said from spring training in Surprise, Ariz. "We have one of the best pitchers in all of baseball opening the season for us. Physically and mentally, he's just in a tremendous position. He knows what he means to this club. You look at him and see a mentally focused and driven human being to who wants to be the best pitcher on the planet."

Darvish has made four starts in the Cactus League this spring, recording a 2.84 ERA while holding opponents to a .216 batting average.

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"I've had a very good spring training," Darvish said Friday after he pitched in a minor league game and allowed one earned run in six innings. "I am confident for the season and can't wait to get started."

Darvish is heading into his first full season since undergoing Tommy John surgery on March 17, 2015. He was 7-5 with a 3.41 ERA in 17 starts last season.

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