San Diego Padres Roster
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San Diego Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove (elbow) is aiming to return from the 15-day injured list this weekend to start on Sunday in Atlanta against the Braves. Musgrove threw a bullpen session on Monday and was expected to throw another one on Wednesday, and it looks like he's shown enough to convince the Padres that he doesn't need to go on a minor-league rehab assignment before returning to the starting rotation. The 31-year-old veteran went on the injured list on May 5 with right-elbow inflammation and was 3-3 with an elevated 6.37 ERA and 1.51 WHIP with 36 strikeouts in 41 innings over his eight starts to begin 2024. Although Musgrove looked much better in his last outing against the Cincinnati Reds, fantasy managers will be rolling the dice if they go with him in his first start off the IL on Sunday against the strong offense of the Braves.
San Diego Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove (elbow) threw a light bullpen session on Monday, marking the first time he'd done so since he was placed on the 15-day injured list after his May 1 start due to right-elbow inflammation. Musgrove is scheduled for another bullpen on Wednesday, with manager Mike Shildt noting that if all goes well, Musgrove is trending toward making his return during the team's series from May 17-20 in Atlanta against the Braves. Musgrove has had a tough season to this point, sporting a 6.37 ERA in eight starts, but his most recent outing was his sharpest, when he gave up just two runs and struck out nine in six innings of work against the Cincinnati Reds. The 31-year-old veteran still has time to turn things around and should be plucked off the waiver wire if he's available in your league, although starting him this weekend if he returns to face the Braves would be a risky proposition.
San Diego Padres designated hitter Luis Arraez is not in the starting lineup on Wednesday with the team facing Colorado Rockies left-hander Austin Gomber in the series finale. With Arraez getting a day to rest, Manny Machado is serving as the DH and is hitting cleanup, while Donovan Solano is at third base and batting sixth. Outfielder Jurickson Profar moves back up to the leadoff spot. Arraez is hitting .303 (54-for-178) on the year and is 13-for-41 (.317) with two doubles, no home runs, four RBI, a stolen base and five runs scored in his first 10 games with the Friars. Fantasy managers should expect him back in the lineup on Friday for the series opener in Atlanta against the Braves. Profar, who has been on a heater so far this year with a .324/.416/.520 slash line with a .936 OPS, will have increased DFS value back in the leadoff spot against a pitcher that he's hitting .375 against in his career with two RBI in eight at-bats.
San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dylan Lesko has been off to a slow start to the 2024 season and took a significant drop in the recent MLB Pipeline rankings. He entered the season as the number 49 prospect but now sits as the number 72 prospect. Through 19 innings at High-A this season, he holds a poor 9.00 ERA, 1.74 WHIP, and an ugly 23:22 BB:K ratio. This is a big difference from his 22:52 BB:K ratio he held through 33 innings last season at Single and High-A. He was in contention to reach Double-A this season, but due to his recent struggles, he may have to wait till next season to get that opportunity. Dynasty managers should follow Lesko closely to see if he could turn things around.
San Diego Padres shortstop/outfielder Jackson Merrill went 2-for-3 at the plate on Monday with a home run. The rookie tallied a solo shot in the seventh inning, which was his third of the season. Through his first 41 games at the major-league level, the 21-year-old has a strong .291/.342/.403 slash line with six stolen bases. Merrill has played in all but one game this season for the Padres and has several strong underlying metrics, such as a 45.5% hard-hit rate and .453 xSLG, which are both significantly above-average. The former first-round selection has settled right in at the major-league level and should be rostered in all standard formats.