Yu Darvish on Monday vowed to stick with his usual pitching approach for his start in the National Championship Series Game 1 for the San Diego Padres against the Philadelphia Phillies.
The veteran right-hander, who has won both his postseason starts this year, held the Phillies to three runs over 13 innings in two regular-season games against them.
"It's an honor but something that comes with really heavy responsibility," Darvish said. "I don't want to come out too fired up and just hope to pitch as usual, with the same feel as the regular season."
The 36-year-old was aware of the threat posed by a Philadephia batting order that includes Bryce Harper, who did not play in Darvish's two starts against them this year.
Harper has hit .435 (10-for-23) in six games this postseason.
"They will get even stronger," said Darvish, who threw a bullpen Sunday before playing catch and doing shadow pitching practice Monday.
