Yu Darvish’s long-awaited season debut is happening. Darvish will start Monday in the Padres’ series opener against the Diamondbacks at Petco Park after a careful comeback from an elbow issue that sidelined him in mid-March.

The five-time All-Star went from presumed Opening Day starter to being at risk of missing the entire first half of the season with lingering elbow inflammation, but manager Mike Shildt announced that Darvish will take the mound to start a four-game set against the Snakes.