Baseball: Darvish calms as return to major league mound looms

Baseball: Darvish calms as return to major league mound looms

Texas Rangers right-hander Yu Darvish (L) chats with pitching coach Doug Brocail in the dugout at Globe Life Park in Arlington on May 25, 2016. Darvish was in a relaxed mood, saying he was neither excited nor worried about his return to the major leagues mound on May 28 after an absence of roughly 21 months. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Darvish throws from normal mound

Darvish throws from normal mound

Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish talks with pitching coach Doug Brocail after throwing from a regulation mound at the club's spring training complex in Surprise, Arizona, on Feb. 29, 2016. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Baseball: Darvish's rehab progressing

Baseball: Darvish's rehab progressing

Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish throws off a half-mound at the club's spring training complex in Surprise, Arizona, on Feb. 22, 2016, the first time he has done so since having Tommy John surgery in March 2015, with pitching coach Doug Brocail looking on. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Baseball: Darvish prepares to start against Indians

Baseball: Darvish prepares to start against Indians

Texas Rangers pitching coach Doug Brocail (C) gives an arm massage to Yu Darvish (L) ahead of practice in Cleveland, Ohio, on June 27, 2017, a day before his scheduled start against the Indians. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Baseball: Darvish pitches Rangers over Royals

Baseball: Darvish pitches Rangers over Royals

Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish is hugged by pitching coach Doug Brocail in the dugout after working eight solid innings in a 5-2 win over the Kansas City Royals at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas, on April 23, 2017. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Darvish struggles in season-worst start

Darvish struggles in season-worst start

(From L) Texas Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish, pitching coach Doug Brocail and catcher Jonathan Lucroy gather on the mound during the second inning of a game against the Oakland Athletics in Arlington, Texas, on Sept. 17, 2016. Darvish lasted only five innings as the Rangers were defeated by the Athletics 11-2. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo