Yu Darvish's confidence remains bulletproof ahead of his first start of the season Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Texas Rangers ace, who was second in the American League Cy Young voting last season, had been penciled in for the March 31 season opener but landed on the 15-day DL with a neck injury.
Darvish threw 20 pitches in the bullpen Friday, after which he declared himself ready to take the mound against one of the best teams in the majors.
"It went as well as it could," Darvish said of his bullpen session. "I've been through a period where I didn't pitch in 40 some days so I'm not the least bit worried."