DETROIT -- After Yu Darvish’s last start, against the Philadelphia Phillies, Rangers catcher Robinson Chirinos had dinner with Phillies shortstop Freddy Galvis, a good friend. Galvis admitted to him that he had hunted Darvish’s slider, which is regarded as perhaps the best breaking ball in Major League Baseball right now.
Galvis waited on the pitch, and waited, looking to attack the slider whenever Darvish decided to try to slip it past him. He ignored the fastball, as well as the specter of the full range of pitches that Darvish can throw.