Joe Musgrove Fantasy Stats

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Joe Musgrove (elbow) is expected to be ready for the start of spring training in February, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Musgrove has been sidelined since October 2024 due to Tommy John surgery, but it sounds like he should be a full-go when the Padres report to Arizona next month. "I feel like I'm in a good position physically [and] mentally for the season," Musgrove said. Acee added that the veteran pitcher was preparing to be available for the NLCS if San Diego qualified, so the extra three months of recovery should only further verify that he's at full health. That's great news for the Padres and fantasy baseball managers. Musgrove projects to be the Padres' No. 3 starter, slotting in behind Michael King and Nick Pivetta. When he was last healthy in 2024, he pitched to a 3.74 xFIP with 9.12 K/9 and 2.08 BB/9 across 19 starts (99.2 innings). He hasn't pitched more than 100 innings since 2022, but the metrics from his last healthy campaign are very encouraging nonetheless. As it stands, Musgrove ranks as the #71 starting pitcher in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Joe Musgrove (elbow) will not have an innings limit placed on him during the 2026 season. Padres manager Craig Stammen appeared on the Foul Territory podcast and explained that the right-hander is in a "great spot" following his recovery from Tommy John surgery and noted that the team is not planning to put an innings limit on him. The 33-year-old has not been on the bump since the 2024 campaign. During that season, he logged 99 1/3 innings to the tune of a 3.88 ERA with a 1.17 WHIP. He struck out 101 hitters and showed above-average command, allowing walks at a 5.6% rate. However, he generated a rather high 4.31 xERA. Musgrove is worth closely monitoring in spring training. He has sleeper appeal in deeper formats, especially if he can return to his 2022 form when he held a strong 2.93 ERA with a 1.08 WHIP.

San Diego Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove (elbow) threw an up-and-down bullpen session at Citi Field on Tuesday before the team's game against the New York Mets. Musgrove threw around 15 pitches in what amounted to a two-innings simulated game. The 32-year-old still has a ways to go, but he's hoping to be cleared to potentially work out of the team's bullpen in October if they make a deep run in the playoffs. He underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on Oct. 11 of 2024 and has not pitched at all during the 2025 campaign, and even though he's ramping up his throwing program off a mound, he remains more of a long shot to return before spring training of 2026. Getting Musgrove back in the rotation next year would be a huge boost to the Padres' pitching staff, but it remains to be seen if he can return to his pre-injury form.

San Diego Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove (elbow) started playing catch in early April and has been throwing bullpen sessions since early August. It's still unlikely that Musgrove will pitch this year after recovering from Tommy John surgery to fix a torn UCL in his right elbow, but he's holding out hope that he can return as a reliever if the Padres make a deep playoff run in October, according to MLB.com. The 32-year-old veteran has been out all year after having TJ surgery on Oct. 11, 2024. The fact that Musgrove has yet to face live hitters doesn't bode well for his chances of pitching for the Padres before spring training of 2026. Musgrove was a first-time All-Star in 2022 in his second year in San Diego and was one of the most reliable starters in fantasy, but injuries in the last two seasons will make him a wild card in 2026 fantasy drafts next spring.

San Diego Padres right-handed pitcher Joe Musgrove (elbow) tossed his first bullpen since undergoing Tommy John surgery last October. He threw a handful of pitches at about 75% intensity and measured his fastball at around 80 mph. Both Musgrove and the training staff are happy with the results as he continues to work his way back from Tommy John surgery. Barring any setbacks, the 32-year-old is expected to advance to full bullpen sessions in August. Before getting injured, he owned a 3.88 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 103 strikeouts over 99 2/3 innings in 2024. Musgrove isn't likely to pitch for the Padres this season, but his offseason progress is something to monitor heading into 2026.

San Diego Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove (elbow) has recently progressed to throwing from 105 feet, according to the team. It's a notable step in the right direction in Musgrove's recovery from the Tommy John surgery he underwent last October. Musgrove will miss the entire season as a result, but he's currently on track to return in 2026 for his age-34 campaign. A Padre since 2021, Musgrove has made 97 starts with the club and put up a 3.20 ERA with 9.41 K/9 and 2.25 BB/9 in 559 1/3 innings. He's likely to have a difficult time approaching that type of production in his return from surgery next season.

San Diego Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove (elbow) has been traveling with the big-league team after starting to play catch again in early April. Musgrove is playing catch three times a week and is scheduled to progress from 75 feet to 90 feet this week, according to MLB.com. The 32-year-old veteran is recovering from Tommy John surgery to fix a torn right UCL. He was placed on the 60-day injured list on March 20 and will miss the entire 2025 season for the Padres and fantasy managers. Before injuring his elbow last year, Musgrove was no longer a reliable fantasy starter and posted a 6.37 ERA in his first eight starts. He looked better in two starts after returning, but that was the extent of his season before having to undergo TJ surgery. With better health, Musgrove could bounce back in 2026, but it's no sure thing at his age.

San Diego Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove (elbow) played light catch on Monday for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery last October. Musgrove was pretty fired up about it and said, "I'm just thinking of all the hard work I've done over the last six months." It's a big step for the 32-year-old veteran, but he still has a ways to go in his comeback from elbow reconstruction and he's not expected to pitch at all for the Padres in 2025. For that reason, Musgrove isn't worth stashing at all in single-year fantasy leagues. He should be ready to go for the start of the 2026 season next spring, but many fantasy managers will be hesitant to rely on a veteran hurler on the wrong side of 30 that is coming off TJ surgery. The former first-rounder was a first-time All-Star in 2022 and was very reliable in his first two seasons with the Friars, but he made just 36 starts combined in 2023-24 due to injuries.

According to MLB.com, San Diego Padres starting pitcher Joe Musgrove (elbow) plans to ramp up using plyometric balls during spring training but is not expected to resume throwing until midseason. The 32-year-old underwent Tommy John surgery in October and is expected to remain sidelined during the entire 2025 season. However, seeing him begin his recovery process during spring training is promising. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he should be a full-go for the 2026 season. Last summer, the 32-year-old posted a 3.88 ERA with a 1.17 WHIP across 99 2/3 innings. He struck out 101 batters and showed strong command of his pitches with a 5.6 percent walk rate. However, he generated a poor 4.34 xERA, which suggests he will likely face some regression when he returns to the mound. Fantasy managers should expect Dylan Cease, Yu Darvish, and Michael King to lead the rotation in 2025, with Randy Vasquez and Matt Waldron serving as the fourth and fifth options.

San Diego Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove (elbow) underwent his Tommy John surgery on Friday with Dr. Keith Meister. Musgrove felt tightness in his elbow in his start in Game 2 of the Wild-Card Series against the Atlanta Braves on Oct. 2 and needed TJ surgery, which will keep him out for the entire 2025 season. Elbow issues -- he also dealt with a bone spur in his right elbow -- sent the 31-year-old to the injured twice in 2024, but this elbow issue is obviously much more serious. Musgrove looked off early on in 2024 but bounced back to finish with a decent 3.88 ERA (3.96 FIP), a 1.17 WHIP and a 101:23 K:BB in 99 2/3 innings over his 19 starts. It's now back-to-back injury-plagued seasons for the veteran right-hander, and his fantasy stock will surely be depressed when he returns to the mound in 2026 after a year off. The good news is his strikeout rate was basically the same this year as it was in his All-Star season of 2022.