San Diego Padres News

San Diego Padres right-hander Nick Pivetta (forearm) had his minor-league rehab assignment paused after leaving an Aug. 4 outing at Single-A Lake Elsinore after only 14 pitches. He has continued to play catch and build his arm up, but his throwing program has been moved to the team's spring training complex in Arizona, per MLB.com. The 33-year-old veteran still has a chance to return for the final month of the regular season in September to help the Padres with their playoff push, but he is running out of time to make an impact for fantasy managers. After a breakout 2025 campaign in his first year in SD, Pivetta has made only four starts for the Friars this year and has been on the injured list since April 12 with a right-forearm/elbow issue. Pivetta will need to resume facing live hitters before the Padres even think about sending him back on a rehab assignment in the minor leagues. He is now rostered in only 67% of Yahoo leagues and will make only a handful of starts for the Padres again this year in a best-case scenario.

San Diego Padres right-hander Nick Pivetta (elbow) played catch again on Sunday at Petco Park after leaving his first minor-league rehab outing last week with Single-A Lake Elsinore with a right-elbow issue, according to AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. The Padres have paused Pivetta's rehab assignment. They have tentative plans for Pivetta to throw a bullpen session, but it's unclear when that might happen. After a career year in 2025 in his first season with the Padres, the 33-year-old veteran has been on the injured list since April 14 with a right flexor strain. It sounds like the Padres are hoping to get Pivetta back before the end of the regular season, but for fantasy purposes, it's probably unlikely that we'll see him back in SD's starting rotation before the end of August. Pivetta is running out of time to help fantasy managers in 2026, but he's still rostered in almost 70% of Yahoo leagues despite having not pitched since April. UPDATE: Pivetta threw off a mound on Monday, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune's Jeff Sanders. He was not fully dressed, as is the norm for between-starts bullpen sessions, but he got off the mound.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Joe Musgrove (elbow) is scheduled to make a minor league rehab start with Triple-A El Paso on Sunday, according to Sammy Levitt. Musgrove continues to work his way back from Tommy John surgery. His last rehab start was with Single-A Lake Elsinore on Tuesday. He might need one or two more starts before he's finally ready to make an impact in the Padres rotation. Fantasy managers should see Musgrove making his season debut in late August. Fantasy managers in need of pitching help down the stretch of the season should consider stashing Musgrove.

The San Diego Padres have signed outfielder Austin Hays to a one-year deal on Sunday, according to Ken Rosenthal. Hays was designated for assignment by the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday. He went unclaimed and ended up hitting free agency, where the Padres wasted little time scooping him up. Hays only played 12 games for the White Sox this season, but he should be an upgrade in the outfield for the Padres. The 31-year-old crushes left-handed pitching and could push for an everyday role if he continues to hit consistently. He could be someone worth watching in deep leagues, assuming he gets regular playing time in San Diego.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Nick Pivetta (right elbow) will have his rehab progression paused for a few days after experiencing tightness during Tuesday's start with Single-A Lake Elsinore. Pivetta threw just 14 pitches before leaving the mound, although he was able to throw another 20-30 pitches in the bullpen afterward. He did not throw his scheduled bullpen Thursday and will not make his next rehab start on time while the Padres determine whether anything needs to change. The 33-year-old has been out since April with a flexor strain after going 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 16 innings. Pivetta posted a 2.87 ERA and finished sixth in NL Cy Young voting last season. There is no timetable for his next rehab appearance, so fantasy managers will have to keep waiting.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Robbie Ray is set to make his team debut against the Houston Astros on Friday. Ray is ready to take the mound after being acquired by the Padres during Monday's trade deadline. He should be well-rested with seven days off ahead of this start. The southpaw owns a 3.08 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and a 107/57 K/BB ratio across 22 games (21 starts) with the San Francisco Giants this season. He should bring some life to a Padres' pitching staff that has been crushed by injuries. The 34-year-old should be rostered in almost all fantasy formats at the moment.

San Diego Padres first baseman Ty France has quietly been one of the team's most consistent offensive producers this summer. He hit .326 (29-for-89) with a .966 OPS, six home runs, six doubles, 20 RBI, and 13 runs scored in 23 games and 100 plate appearances in July, and he's off to a good start so far in five games in August, going 6-for-20 (.300) with five runs scored for the Friars. The 32-year-old veteran's recent hot streak at the plate has boosted his season slash line to an impressive .288/.342/.520 with an .862 OPS, 16 home runs, 49 RBI, 39 runs scored, and a stolen base in 89 games played across 311 plate appearances in his eighth year in the big leagues. France is suddenly five home runs shy of setting a new career high in that category in his return to San Diego in 2026. While his .255 expected batting average and .331 xwOBA (current wOBA of .368) say that we've probably seen the best from France this year, he's still a decent corner-infield option for some pop in deep-mixed fantasy leagues while he's hot. After his red-hot stretch in July, he's now rostered in 40% of Yahoo leagues.

San Diego Padres manager Craig Stammen said that right-hander Nick Pivetta (forearm) had a normal day of recovery on Wednesday and threw out to 90 feet, according to Sammy Levitt of 97.3 The Fan. Pivetta was checked out by doctors as an extra precaution, but Stammen said it sounds like it's "all systems forward" right now. The 33-year-old veteran walked off the mound abruptly in the middle of an at-bat in his first minor-league rehab appearance with Single-A Lake Elsinore on Tuesday due to tightness in his right elbow, but after throwing in the bullpen afterwards, he felt fine. Pivetta may have avoided a serious setback from a forearm/elbow injury that has limited him to just four starts in 2026. It looks like he will attempt to stay on schedule and make another rehab start. In a best-case scenario for Pivetta and the Padres, he'll return to SD's starting rotation by the end of the month as the Friars look to make a playoff push. When healthy, Pivetta showed last year that he can be the team's ace after going 13-5 with a 2.87 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 190:50 K:BB in 31 regular-season starts in what was a career year in 2025.

Newly acquired San Diego Padres starting pitcher Casey Mize is making his debut with the team on Wednesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Padres acquired Mize from the Detroit Tigers on Monday in exchange for pitching prospects Kash Mayfield and Jackson Wolf. Mize has had a strong season so far in 2026, recording a 4-6 record with a 2.70 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 85 strikeouts across 86 2/3 innings (14 starts). The 29-year-old has also needed multiple stints on the injured list due to groin strains, but he's healthy now and will be relied upon as a key piece in the Padres rotation down the stretch. Mize has posted the best K-BB rate (19.4%) of his career this year, and he's limited hard contact with a 0.52 HR/9. When healthy, he profiles as a must-start fantasy pitcher in most league formats.

San Diego Padres right-hander Nick Pivetta (elbow) felt tightness in his right elbow during his minor-league rehab outing with Single-A Lake Elsinore on Tuesday when he came off the mound, but then he threw a 30-pitch bullpen session and felt perfectly fine, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports. The Padres will know more on Wednesday. It did not look good when Pivetta walked off the field in the middle of an at-bat in the fourth inning, but the 33-year-old veteran might have escaped a major setback and could still have a chance to rejoin the Padres' starting rotation before the end of the 2026 regular season. SD bolstered their rotation at the trade deadline by adding lefty Robbie Ray and right-hander Casey Mize, but they are also expecting the return of Pivetta, who was the club's ace in 2025, when he went 13-5 with a 2.87 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 190:50 K:BB in 31 starts. It's unclear exactly how big of a setback Pivetta is dealing with, but he's currently being stashed in 70% of Yahoo leagues in hopes that he can make a difference down the stretch and return to his pre-injury form. Pivetta had a 4.50 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in just four starts earlier this year before being shut down.

The San Diego Padres made a move to bolster their rotation at the trade deadline, acquiring starting pitcher Casey Mize from the Detroit Tigers. Across 86 2/3 innings (14 starts) this season, Mize has recorded a 4-6 record with a 2.70 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 85 strikeouts. The 29-year-old has also logged two separate stints on the injured list due to groin strains, so health is a red flag in his profile. However, when healthy, Mize profiles as a steady innings-eater. He's posted a 19.4% K-BB rate and has limited the long ball, allowing just 0.52 HR/9. To get Mize, San Diego sent out left-handed pitching prospects Kash Mayfield and Jackson Wolf. With the Padres, Mize profiles as one of San Diego's top arms alongside right-hander Michael King and fellow trade deadline acquisition Robbie Ray.

The San Diego Padres are finalizing a deal to acquire veteran left-hander Robbie Ray from the division-rival San Francisco Giants on Monday, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. It's unclear at this time what the Padres are shipping to the Giants in exchange. Ray will be an immediate upgrade for the Friars' starting rotation alongside right-hander Michael King while the team waits for the returns of both right-handers Nick Pivetta (forearm) and Joe Musgrove (elbow). The 34-year-old Ray has gone 10-6 with a 3.08 ERA (4.36 FIP) and 1.29 WHIP with 107 strikeouts and 57 walks in 122 2/3 innings pitched in his 22 appearances (21 starts) for the Giants this year. Ray has been much better since the start of June, going 7-0 with a 1.65 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. The 13-year-old veteran won't gain much of a boost fantasy-wise with the move to San Diego, and fantasy managers shouldn't expect his strong run of form to continue through the rest of the season, especially with a walk rate over 10% and a strikeout rate that has fallen from 33.3% in 2024 to 20.9% this year. Ray will definitely give SD a better shot at sneaking into the postseason in a wild-card spot, though.

San Diego Padres right-hander Nick Pivetta (forearm) is scheduled to make a minor-league rehab appearance with Single-A Lake Elsinore on Tuesday, according to the team. It will be Pivetta's first game action since landing on the injured list back on April 14 with a strained right forearm. Because of how long he has been sidelined, the 33-year-old veteran will most likely require at least several rehab starts on the farm before the Padres consider returning him to their big-league starting rotation. Fellow Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove (elbow) will also be appearing on Tuesday at Lake Elsinore, so the Padres could have two very important starting arms back in their rotation very soon for the stretch run. Because of language in Pivetta's contract relating to player options in both 2027 and 2028, the Padres are expected to activate him before Aug. 22. The Canadian hurler went 13-5 with a career-best 2.87 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 190:50 K:BB in 31 regular-season starts in 2025 in his first year in SD in a breakout season, but he's made only four starts in 2026 due to his forearm injury. Pivetta won't have much time to make a fantasy impact when he returns, but he's being stashed in 71% of Yahoo leagues.

The Milwaukee Brewers "love the idea" of adding San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller to their already potent bullpen, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. Miller has been the best closer in baseball so far this season, recording a 0.79 ERA and 0.79 WHIP with 85 strikeouts and 28 saves across 45 2/3 innings (44 games). The 27-year-old is averaging 101.3 miles per hour on his fastball and has struck out a ridiculous 49.4% of the batters he's faced in 2026. Milwaukee has gotten solid work in the ninth inning from right-hander Trevor Megill, who has recorded a 2.97 ERA and 17 saves across 39 1/3 innings. However, adding Miller would clearly heighten what is already one of the team's strengths. Fantasy managers should be aware that if Miller is moved to Milwaukee or elsewhere, he could push an incumbent closer like Megill out of the ninth inning.

San Diego Padres second baseman/outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. went 0-for-13 in the team's three-game sweep of the Miami Marlins over the weekend, but he quickly put that out of his memory in the team's 8-7 win over the division-rival Colorado Rockies at Petco Park on Tuesday night. Tatis went a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate with five singles, two walks, and a run scored to boost his season average to .285 and his OPS to .753. After a very slow start to the year and a lengthy homer drought, Tatis is now hitting a strong .285/.353/.400 with eight home runs, 49 RBI, 25 stolen bases, and 54 runs scored in 106 games across 469 plate appearances in his seventh year in the big leagues. The three-time All-Star now has four multi-hit efforts in his last 11 games and is batting .290 (27-for-93) with an .840 OPS, three home runs, five doubles, a triple, 16 RBI, six steals, and 17 runs scored in 23 games in July. After hitting just one homer through May, Tatis has seven home runs since the start of June. He remains a must-start in all fantasy formats the rest of the way.

San Diego Padres catching prospect Ethan Salas is being promoted to Triple-A El Paso, according to Chase Ford of MiLB Central. Salas is viewed as the No. 1 prospect in the San Diego system and will now sit just one step away from the major leagues. The young backup endured some growing pains during the 2024 season and appeared in only 10 games last summer, but he has rebounded quite nicely in 2026. In 2024, Salas spent 111 games with High-A, where he held a .206/.288/.311 line with a low. 599 OPS. However, this season at Double-A, Salas has carried a sharp .286/.361/.417 slash line with 13 doubles, seven home runs and 14 stolen bases. While a late-season MLB debut is unlikely, his promotion has kept the door open. The 20-year-old remains one of the top catching prospects in the entire sport and is the long-term answer behind the dish for the Padres.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Nick Pivetta (forearm) threw to live batters on Friday, marking a significant step forward in his recovery from a right flexor strain. The 33-year-old threw 20 pitches during the planned session, and if all goes well, the Padres expect him to face live hitters again next week. Sidelined since the middle of April, Pivetta has had little opportunity to make an impact in fantasy. With just 16.0 innings pitched, the mid-round fantasy pick has been unable to provide a return on the investment fantasy managers made during draft season. With this latest step forward, the hope is that he can begin a rehab assignment after a few more successful live batting practice sessions. If all goes well, he has a chance to return for the final month of the regular season.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Joe Musgrove (elbow) threw his first live batting practice session on Friday. He tossed 23 pitches, and while that is fewer than the nearly 40 pitches he threw a week earlier, facing live hitters is a much more significant step. This marks another major milestone for the 33-year-old hurler, who is working his way back from Tommy John surgery in October 2024. He is set to throw again at some point next week, and will likely need to throw multiple live batting practice sessions before being assigned to a rehab assignment. However, if he continues to check all the boxes, there is a chance he could be activated from the Injured List sometime in September. That said, it's unclear whether he will be eased back into action after such a long layoff, which caps his fantasy upside for the 2026 season.

San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado went hitless in the first three games out of last week's All-Star break over the weekend, but he's turned things around so far this week and had another big game offensively in Tuesday's 8-3 win over the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Machado went 2-for-5 at the plate with two solo home runs and a strikeout to raise his season average to .204 and his OPS to .727. The 34-year-old veteran and seven-time All-Star has been a disappointment average-wise and with a .294 on-base percentage, but he's now up to 22 home runs on the year and has added 59 RBI, 50 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 413 plate appearances, so he has still been an asset in counting stats and for his power. Machado also homered in Monday's series opener in Atlanta, so he's gone deep three times in the last two days after going 0-for-9 over the weekend in the series in Kansas City against the Royals. So far in 16 games and 69 plate appearances in July, Machado is hitting .281 (16-for-57) with a 1.005 OPS, six home runs, a double, 13 RBI, 10 runs, and a steal. Fantasy managers who bought low on him have been pleased.

ESPN's Jeff Passan writes that the San Diego Padres are considering trading right-handed closer Mason Miller, less than a year after giving up one of the top prospects in baseball in shortstop Leo De Vries, to acquire him. The Padres would love to attach shortstop Xander Bogaerts' contract to any trade, which would severely limit the return for Miller, but Passan doesn't think any team will want to take Bogaerts. There will be plenty of teams in on Miller if SD is serious about moving him since the flamethrowing righty is a game-changer in the ninth inning. Passan lists the New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies, Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Tampa Bay Rays as the best fits if Miller is actually dealt. If the Padres don't turn things around soon -- they sit 13.5 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West and 2.5 games out of the final NL wild-card spot with four teams in front of them -- Miller could be an ex-Padre by Aug. 3. Miller has been one of the most dominant relievers of all time in 2026, sporting a 101.3 mph fastball with a nasty slider that have helped him generate an absurd 48.4% strikeout rate in his 40 2/3 innings this year.