Ron Washington, manager for the Texas Rangers announced Yu Darvish would start the Texas Rangers' first playoff game.
Washington's announcement came prior to their loss to the Athletics 12-5 Wednesday.
"Of course I'm ready," the Associated Press quoted Darvish as saying. "If I'm not ready I probably wouldn't be picked. I'm going to approach it like any other start.
"I'll try to pitch well and give my team a chance to win."
The Texas Rangers, who have won the AL Championship two times, will play a one-game wild-card playoff Friday against the Baltimore Orioles.
Manager Washington said about Darvish" He's finally Yu Darvish. I don't know the date, but it was Boston. He found Yu Darvish then, and he's been Yu Darvish since.
"He was searching to find what he was capable of doing over here. And I think he realizes now that competing in a relaxed, trusting and believing, that there was something he was searching for all year and he finally found it.
"Which is what he is when he's at his best, which is what all pitchers are when they're at their best. It's not just those adjectives I've described as Yu Darvish. That's pitchers, period, when they're at their best."
Darvish, has 221 strikeouts with just 89 walks. He is an All-Star and has won six starts consecutively since 17 August.
Washington had meant the game in Boston on August 6. The Rangers had lost to the Red Sox 9-2 in that game. Darvish threw 123 pitches allowing 11 hits, both career highs. Since then, he has lost only once - against the Toronto Blue Jays (3-2) on 17 August.
"Mainly, it's mental," Darvish said. "I'm pitching with more of a strong mind and with confidence. We had a conversation (in Boston). But we didn't talk in depth about pitching."
The 26-year old signed a 6-year contract for $56 million. The Rangers had to pay his Japanese club $57.7 million to get him to play for them.
Washington said: "I keep saying it, the guy was under tremendous pressure coming over here, learning everything, making adjustments. It took that point for him to find the adjustments he had to make to become what he always knew he was and we knew he was, and he found it.
"And that would be no different if it was any other pitcher who's a pretty good pitcher making adjustments."
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