Wash wants Darvish to be himself

ARLINGTON -- When asked what he would do if he made an appearance in the All-Star Game, Yu Darvish said, "I'm going to throw all sliders."

While he was joking about the situation, his pitch selection has been a hot topic this season. Darvish said he silenced his critics by using the fastball against the Reds. During his outing Saturday against the Astros, he allowed five runs in six-plus innings.

"I should've been a little bit more aggressive," Darvish said through an interpreter after the game. "Not just this outing, but also the last outing I think I threw too many fastballs. I think I'm a breaking-ball pitcher, and I think I should've thrown more breaking balls."

Rangers manager Ron Washington said he shares whatever assessment Darvish had of his outing.

"I just want him to be who he is," Washington said. "When he is who he is, he's very effective."

Washington said Darvish didn't mix his pitches well Saturday in attempt to prove his critics wrong again with his fastball.

"Whatever he think he needs to mix, mix it Darvish," Washington said. "I'm good with it. If that's 10 percent of fastballs, it's 10 percent of fastballs. Whatever that is effective, I'm on board with Darvish."