San Diego Padres News

Ethan Salas  • C  •  Padres

Ethan Salas Hits Fourth AFL Home Run On Thursday

San Diego Padres catching prospect Ethan Salas went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run on Thursday, his fourth of the Arizona Fall League (AFL) campaign. Salas now has 21 RBI which is tied for third-most in the AFL, but is hitting just .228 and has a 13:27 BB:K over 23 games. Still, the 18-year-old is one of the youngest players in the AFL, competing against older, more seasoned pitchers. The youngster ranks as the Padres' top prospect and 19th in all of baseball but isn't expected to make his debut for a couple of years yet. Nevertheless, he's a strong defender already and has all the tools to make it to the big leagues with the potential to be a star, so fantasy managers should take notice.
2 days ago   
Ethan Salas  • C  •  Padres

Ethan Salas Swipes Two Bags In 2024 Fall Stars Game

San Diego Padres catching prospect Ethan Salas went 1-for-1 with a walk and two stolen bases in the 2024 Fall Stars Game. The backstop was able to swipe second and third base after drawing a lead-off walk in the third inning. At only 18 years old, Salas has been holding his own in the Arizona Fall League as he carried a solid .256/.366/.449 slash line with three home runs, six doubles, 19 RBI, and four stole bases. Last season, the top prospect in San Diego spent the entire campaign with High-A Fort Wayne and faced some growing pains as he posted an overall .206/.288/.311 line with just four home runs in 111 games. Despite his underwhelming performances last summer, Salas remains one of the top catching prospects in the sport and could spend most of the 2025 campaign with Double-A if he continues to progress during the offseason.
7 days ago   
Luis Arraez  • 1B  •  Padres

Luis Arraez Has Thumb Surgery, Expected To Be Ready For Opening Day

San Diego Padres infielder Luis Arraez (thumb) had surgery on his thumb on Wednesday to repair a torn left thumb ligament. Having all offseason to recover, the 27-year-old is expected to be ready to go on Opening Day. The 3x All-Star was a key piece to the Padres' run to the playoffs after coming over from the Marlins in May, hitting .318 with a .324 wOBA and 111 wRC+ on his way to a third batting title with his third different team. While he's one of the best contact hitters in all of baseball, he doesn't move the needle all that much for fantasy as he doesn't hit for power which also results in low RBI numbers, and for someone who always seems to be on base, he does not swipe many bags.
Oct 17   
Ha-Seong Kim  • SS  •  Padres

Ha-Seong Kim Undergoes Shoulder Surgery

San Diego Padres shortstop Ha-Seong Kim (shoulder) underwent shoulder surgery on Thursday, according to Dennis Lin of The Athletic. Kim has been sidelined since Aug. 20 with shoulder inflammation. He attempted to return in time for October but was ultimately shut down late into September after facing several setbacks. Through 121 games this summer, the 28-year-old posted a .233/.330/.370 slash line with 11 home runs and 22 stolen bases. He held a stellar 12.3% walk rate and 16.4% strikeout rate, which gave him a significant boost in points leagues. Fantasy managers should monitor his progression over the winter, but he should be ready to return in time for spring training. Kim remains a solid low-end shortstop in rotisserie leagues given his ability to steal bases and hit for decent power.
Oct 12   
Joe Musgrove  • SP  •  Padres

Joe Musgrove Undergoes Tommy John Surgery On Friday

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.
Oct 12   
Dylan Cease  • SP  •  Padres

Dylan Cease To Start NLDS Game 4 On Short Rest

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease is listed as the team's starting pitcher for Wednesday's National League Division Series Game 4 against the Dodgers. The 28-year-old, who pitched 3 1/3 innings on Saturday in Game 1 of the series, will get the nod ahead of his typical schedule with Joe Musgrove (elbow) needing Tommy John surgery and the Padres up 2-1 in the series. While Cease had solid regular-season stats, he got hit around by the Dodgers in game 1, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts. He may rise to the occasion in a series-clinching game, but Cease's previous performance and lack of regular rest make him an uneasy DFS play.
Oct 9   
Robert Suarez  • RP  •  Padres

Robert Suarez Earns Four-Out Save In NLDS Game 3

San Diego Padres closer Robert Suarez came up clutch in Tuesday's National League Division Series 6-5 win over the Dodgers. Suarez came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth inning up by one with two outs and a runner on first. He induced a pop-out and stayed in to pitch the ninth, turning in a 1-2-3 effort with two strikeouts. The 33-year-old had a breakout season, going 9-3 with 36 saves to go with a 2.77 ERA, a 1.05 WHIP, and a 22.9% strikeout rate in 65 innings of work. He has yet to allow a run in three post-season appearances, picking up two saves with a 0.30 WHIP and two strikeouts in 3 1/3 IP. Suarez was one of fantasy's most reliable closers in the regular season, making him a strong DFS option for the playoffs.
Oct 9   
Fernando Tatis Jr.  • RF  •  Padres

Fernando Tatis Jr. Hits Fourth Homer Of Postseason Tuesday

San Diego Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. continued his torrid offensive postseason in Tuesday's National League Division Series Game 3 6-5 win over the Dodgers. Tatis Jr. went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run. The 25-year-old capped off a six-run second inning, obliterating an 0-2 Walker Buehler fastball into the left-field seats. Tatis Jr. put together a solid offensive regular season and has been on fire in the postseason, batting .556 with four HR and seven RBI in 18 at-bats. The Padres' lineup has performed well throughout the playoffs as well, making Tatis Jr. a standout DFS play.
Oct 9   
Xander Bogaerts  • 2B  •  Padres

Xander Bogaerts In Game 3 Lineup Against Dodgers

San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts (hamstring) is starting at shortstop and hitting sixth for the Friars for Game 3 of the National League Division Series on Tuesday at Petco Park against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander Walker Buehler. Donovan Solano will start on the bench, with David Peralta serving as the designated hitter and batting seventh. Bogaerts had to leave the Game 2 win on Sunday after hitting a home run due to a hamstring cramp, but after a day off on Monday, the 32-year-old is ready to go again. He's gone 3-for-8 with the homer and three RBI in the first two games of the NLDS but has just one hit in seven career at-bats with a strikeout against Buehler. Meanwhile, Peralta, who also homered in Game 2, has hit .226 (7-for-31) with two doubles, three RBI, four walks and six strikeouts against Buehler in his career.
Oct 8   
Dylan Cease  • SP  •  Padres

Dylan Cease Not Ruled Out For Game 4 Start

When asked whether San Diego Padres right-hander Dylan Cease on short rest would be able to start Game 4 of the National League Division Series on Wednesday at Petco Park against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers, manager Mike Shildt said, "All options are on the table." With Joe Musgrove (elbow) needing Tommy John surgery, the two options for Game 4 figure to be Cease and veteran left-hander Martin Perez. If the Padres turn to Cease on Wednesday, Yu Darvish, who was masterful on Sunday in the Game 2 win, would likely start a potential Game 5 back at Dodger Stadium. Cease had some ups and downs in his first year in SD in 2024 but was mostly dominant and threw a no-hitter after narrowly missing one several years ago with the White Sox. He was off his game in the Game 1 loss on Saturday, allowing five earned runs while walking two and fanning five in just 3 1/3 innings.
Oct 8   
Fernando Tatis Jr.  • RF  •  Padres

Fernando Tatis Jr. Stays Red Hot, Collects Three Extra-Base Hits

San Diego Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. bashed two homers en route to a 10-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 of the NLDS on Sunday. Tatis finished the game 3-for-4 with a double, two homers, three runs scored, and three RBI. Not a bad day at the office. He was also hit by a pitch by Jack Flaherty after homering and doubling off him, which caused some fireworks. The Dodgers can't seem to get Tatis out, as he has gone 5-for-8 in the first two games of this series and is now sitting at a ridiculous 9-for-14 in the playoffs as a whole. He is making an early bid for playoff MVP, although there is obviously a long way to go yet.
Oct 7   
Xander Bogaerts  • 2B  •  Padres

Xander Bogaerts Leaves Game Early After Homering

San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts (hamstring) left Game 2 of the NLDS on Sunday against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers in the eighth inning due to hamstring cramping. Bogaerts felt the discomfort earlier in the game, but was able to play through it and actually homered in the eighth before leaving. It is most likely a precautionary measure, as the Padres were up 7-1 when Bogaerts was removed. He said he thinks he will be fine, so expect to see him back in the lineup for Game 3 barring a setback.
Oct 7   
Manny Machado  • 3B  •  Padres

Manny Machado Goes Deep In Game 1 Of NLDS

San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado went 1-for-5 with a two-run shot in their loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the NLDS. Machado put the Padres up early as he hit a two-run homer in the opening frame off Yoshinobu Yamamoto, which scored Fernando Tatis Jr. Machado tallied two RBI in the Wild Card series against the Atlanta Braves and is continuing to serve as a focal point of the offense in the NLDS. DFS players should always consider putting Machado in their lineup, given his upside for power and scoring opportunities batting in the heart of a potent lineup. Machado held a solid .275 AVG this season with 29 long balls and 11 stolen bases. He will face Dodger right-hander Jack Flaherty on Sunday evening in Game 2 and will likely bat in the cleanup spot as he has done through most of the summer.
Oct 6   
Martín Pérez  • SP  •  Padres

Martin Perez Rejoins Roster For NLDS

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Martin Perez is on the NLDS roster after being left off the Wild Card roster last week. Perez is rejoining the roster because Joe Musgrove (elbow) is set to undergo Tommy John surgery. As a result, the Padres will enter the NLDS with four potential starters, including Dylan Cease, Yu Darvish, Michael King, and Perez. Since joining San Diego at the trade deadline, the southpaw has held a modest 3.46 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP, with a 17:44 BB:K ratio across 52 frames. However, he struggled with Pittsburgh in the first half, holding a hefty 5.20 ERA and 1.65 WHIP. Perez could start Game 4, but it is best to leave him off your DFS lineup as he sits with an underwhelming 18.1% K rate and a poor 41.5% hard-hit rate.
Oct 5   
Michael King  • SP  •  Padres

Michael King Likely To Start Game 3 Of NLDS

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Michael King will likely start Game 3 of the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Padres manager Mike Schildt said that after Dylan Cease starts Game 1, Yu Darvish will likely go in Game 2, and King will go "soon thereafter," insinuating a Game 3 start for the righty. King was dominant in his first postseason start, striking out 12 batters in seven innings of shutout ball against the Atlanta Braves. King has been a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde type pitcher against the Dodgers this season. He's faced them four times, and in two of those he's been dominant (12 innings of shutout ball), and in the other two he's been crushed (10 runs, seven earned in just over eight innings pitched). The good news for Padres fans is the two blowups happened early in the season, with one being a long-relief appearance in South Korea. King may be a risky DFS play in his start, as current Dodgers have hit him for a .326 wOBA and a .366 xwOBA. Those willing to take a risk on him in DFS should know there's likely a bit of volatility in this matchup.
Oct 5   
Joe Musgrove  • SP  •  Padres

Joe Musgrove To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

San Diego Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove (elbow) will undergo Tommy John surgery, according to general manager A.J. Preller. It was announced earlier on Friday that Musgrove would not be available for the National League Division Series against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers, but now Musgrove will miss the entire postseason and all of the 2025 season. The 31-year-old veteran was pulled from his start early on Wednesday in the Wild-Card Series against the Atlanta Braves with tightness in his right elbow, and an MRI exam on Thursday showed UCL damage. SD will hope that right-hander Yu Darvish and left-hander Martin Perez can step up behind Dylan Cease and Michael King heading into the NLDS. Musgrove had two trips to the injured list in 2024 due to elbow injuries and finished 6-5 with a 3.88 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 101 K's in 99 2/3 frames over his 19 starts.
Oct 4   
Yu Darvish  • SP  •  Padres

Yu Darvish To Start In Game 2 Of NLDS

San Diego Padres right-hander Yu Darvish is listed as the probable starter for the Friars for Game 2 of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday. SD will go with ace Dylan Cease in Game 1 of the series on Saturday. Darvish will be opposed by fellow Japanese starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Padres will be hoping Darvish can step up with Joe Musgrove (elbow) potentially done for the remainder of the postseason. The 38-year-old Japanese hurler missed time due to injury and was away from the team for a while in 2024 due to personal issues, so he only started 16 games during the regular season, going 7-3 with a 3.31 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 78 strikeouts in 81 2/3 innings. In his three starts versus the Dodgers this year, Darvish allowed four runs (three earned) while striking out 12 and walking six in 15 2/3 innings. He had a 3.55 ERA, 25 K's and seven walks in five starts to close out the year after.
Oct 3   
Dylan Cease  • SP  •  Padres

Dylan Cease Going In Game 1 Against Dodgers

San Diego Padres right-hander Dylan Cease will start Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Saturday. Cease will be followed by right-hander Yu Darvish in Game 2 on Sunday. The mustachioed right-hander was acquired from the Chicago White Sox before the regular season and went 14-11 with a 3.47 ERA (3.10 FIP), a 1.07 WHIP and a 224:65 K:BB in a career-high 189 1/3 innings over 33 starts. It was the fourth straight year for Cease with 200-plus strikeouts, and he also tossed a no-hitter against the Washington Nationals. He was one of the most dominant starters with a 29.4% strikeout rate, just behind Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty, who will oppose him in Game 1 on Saturday. In his two starts against LA in 2024, Cease held a 3.38 ERA with 10 K's and six walks in 10 2/3 innings.
Oct 3   
Joe Musgrove  • SP  •  Padres

Joe Musgrove Going For MRI On Thursday

San Diego Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove (elbow) will undergo an MRI exam on his right elbow after leaving his start on Wednesday in Game 2 of the Wild-Card Series against the Atlanta Braves at Petco Park with right-elbow tightness in the fourth inning. Musgrove has been on the injured list twice this year with elbow issues stemming from bone spurs, but he said he didn't think the tightness he felt on Wednesday was related to what sidelined him from late May through mid-August. An initial UCL test came back clean, but we won't have full clarity on his outlook for the rest of the postseason until we know the results of his MRI. The 31-year-old was cruising in Wednesday's game and had been one of baseball's best pitchers after returning in August, so losing him for any amount of time in October would be a huge blow to the Padres' rotation. If Musgrove is unavailable the rest of the way, SD will hope right-hander Yu Darvish can pick up some of the slack.
Oct 3   
Joe Musgrove  • SP  •  Padres

Joe Musgrove Exits Early With Injury

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Joe Musgrove (elbow) was humming along in Wednesday's wild-card matchup before showing signs of an injury in the fourth inning. Musgrove left with what the Padres are describing as elbow tightness after tossing three-and-two-thirds innings of one-run ball, allowing just one hit and no walks while striking out four. It is unclear at this point if the injury will affect the veteran's availability for the remainder of the postseason, but the righty has had a history of elbow issues so the Padres will hope it's nothing serious this time around. Keep an eye out for an update regarding the severity before the NLDS begins on Saturday.
Oct 3   
LEGEND
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