San Diego Padres News

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Manny Machado • 3B • Padres

Manny Machado Remains a Worthy Buy-Low Candidate

San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado has been one of the best hitters in baseball for over a decade, but the 33-year-old has struggled mightily to this point in 2026. Across 220 plate appearances, Machado is hitting .169/.265/.339 with nine home runs, 27 RBI, 27 runs scored, and one stolen base. Machado's strikeout rate is a career-worst 23.2%, while his 7.7% barrel rate is his worst mark since his rookie season in 2015. As he hits his mid-30s, Machado could simply be suffering from age-related decline. Still, the veteran's extended track record of both consistency and durability makes it hard to believe he won't claw his way back to respectable production by the end of the year. Entering 2026, Machado had posted five consecutive seasons with at least 600 plate appearances, 27 home runs, and 90 RBI. Fantasy managers should not expect peak performance, but Machado still profiles as a worthy buy-low candidate.

2 days ago

Mason Miller • RP • Padres

Is Mason Miller Worth Selling High On at the Peak of His Value?

As we near the end of May, San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller has arguably been the most dominant reliever in baseball in 2026. Across 23 2/3 innings (23 games), Miller owns a 0.76 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 47 strikeouts, and 16 saves. He's averaging 101.2 miles per hour on his fastball and has struck out a completely ridiculous 52.2% of the batters he's faced. Barring injury, there's little reason to think that Miller won't continue to provide high-end closer production for fantasy managers. At the same time, managers with another viable ninth-inning option on their roster may want to consider shopping Miller now, when he's at the absolute peak of his value. If the offers for Miller are astronomical, trading him could be a way to build a more well-rounded overall roster. There's obviously nothing wrong with holding onto the 27-year-old, but selling high could be worth exploring.

2 days ago

Fernando Tatis Jr. • RF • Padres

Is it Time to Buy Low on Fernando Tatis Jr.?

Somehow, San Diego Padres second baseman/outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. is without a home run with 54 games and 231 plate appearances under his belt in 2026. At this point, many fantasy managers might be giving up hope that he'll homer at all this year. The three-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger winner has never been cheaper in terms of acquisition cost in a trade, so now is the time to strike. Overall, Tatis is slashing .260/.339/.300 with a .639 OPS, 16 RBI, 14 stolen bases, and 19 runs scored in 200 at-bats. Although he's not pulling the ball in the air, which explains the lack of power, Tatis has actually hit quite well in May, going 24-for-88 (.273) with two doubles, a triple, three RBI, eight runs, and six stolen bases. The Dominican star is on a modest four-game hitting streak and has gone 14-for-37 (.378) in his last 10 games, so it's not like he's doing nothing at all, and the stolen bases have helped. Tatis' expected slugging sits in just the 46th percentile, but he's in the 96th percentile in hard-hit rate and the 73rd percentile in xwOBA. Tatis will homer eventually, but even if he doesn't return to the 20-homer mark, which is unlikely at this point, he will at least be a major asset with his wheels.

2 days ago

Gavin Sheets • 1B • Padres

Gavin Sheets a Priority Waiver-Wire Addition Amid Hitting Streak?

San Diego Padres first baseman Gavin Sheets has recorded a base hit in five consecutive games, offering consistency and upside in fantasy baseball. Over his last 13 games, Sheets is 15-for-39 (.385) with four home runs, 10 walks, and nine strikeouts. This level of productivity has turned him into a priority waiver wire addition, especially for fantasy managers in search of someone to occupy a first base or outfield spot. In total this year, Sheets is slashing .255/.335/.503 with a career-high 139 wRC+. He also has nine home runs, putting him on pace to slug 20+ homers for the first time in his career. Despite being a key bright spot for a 31-win Padres team, Sheets is rostered in just 29% of fantasy baseball leagues. That means he's available in 71% of leagues, making him a priority target for plenty of fantasy managers.

3 days ago

Xander Bogaerts • SS • Padres

Xander Bogaerts Worth a Waiver-Wire Pickup After Two-Hit Game on Sunday?

San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts hit .292 (26-for-89) in April and also had five home runs, a double, 15 RBI, 14 runs scored, and three stolen bases as one of the team's most consistent hitters. It led to an uptick in fantasy managers picking him up off the waiver wire. Bogaerts had two hits in the team's 5-2 loss in the series finale on Sunday against the Athletics, but he has cooled off considerably at the plate recently and in May. His two hits on Sunday broke a streak of three straight hitless games, and the 33-year-old veteran is hitting only .211 (15-for-71) with two home runs, a double, seven RBI, five steals, and eight runs scored in 21 games in May. Since May 13, Bogaerts has gone 6-for-34 (.176) with an RBI, three steals, three runs, three walks, and eight strikeouts in 10 games played. Overall, the four-time All-Star is slashing a modest .250/.320/.383 with a .703 OPS, seven home runs, 24 RBI, eight steals, and 22 runs across 50 games. At the very least, Bogaerts has been more attractive in deep-mixed fantasy leagues for his uptick in power in 2026, as he had only 11 homers in each of the last two seasons in San Diego.

5 days ago

Jackson Merrill • CF • Padres

Jackson Merrill has Sore Ribs, Expected to Avoid Injured List

San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill (ribs) is dealing with some sore ribs, but he is expected to be ready to play in the next few days, according to Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune. Merrill most likely will not be in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the visiting Athletics at Petco Park, but he could return before Sunday's series opener. The 23-year-old tweaked his ribs while trying to rob a Shohei Ohtani home run in a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, and it was originally reported as a potential back injury. Fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for now and check back later this weekend to see if he can return to the starting nine. Bryce Johnson could make a start on Friday in center field for the Friars against left-hander Jeffrey Springs. Merrill, along with plenty of other Padres hitters, has been a disappointment offensively so far in 2026. He entered Friday's games hitting just .203/.273/.322 with a career-low .595 OPS, four homers, 19 RBI, nine steals, and 23 runs scored across 47 games. UPDATE: Merrill is out of Friday's lineup.

7 days ago

Xander Bogaerts • SS • Padres

Xander Bogaerts a Waiver-Wire Target Amid Power Resurgence?

San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts is an intriguing waiver wire option for fantasy baseball managers as he shows off increased power. Bogaerts hit just 11 homers in each of his last two seasons, but he's already up to seven homers through just 48 games this year. Although he has hit a bit of a lull lately (.160/.192/.160 slash line over his last seven games), the power surge is enough to justify adding Bogaerts off waivers. Outside of the recent skid, he's having a solid season with a .247/.318/.385 slash line, seven homers, seven steals, a 9% walk rate, an 18% strikeout rate, and 104 wRC+. He is still available in 48% of leagues, and he ranks #19 among shortstops in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings.

May 21

Jackson Merrill • CF • Padres

Jackson Merrill Tweaks his Back on Wednesday, Pulled Early

San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill (back) appeared to tweak his back while leaping up against the fence while going after Shohei Ohtani's leadoff home run in the first inning at Petco Park in Wednesday's series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers and was pulled from the game, according to Alden Gonzalez of ESPN. Merrill struck out in his only plate appearance before being replaced in center field by Bryce Johnson in the fifth inning. The Padres can ill-afford an injury to one of their best hitters and best defenders. For now, we'll consider Merrill day-to-day, but we should have a better idea of his status going forward after he undergoes some imaging. San Diego has a scheduled day off on Thursday before starting a three-game series against the Athletics on Friday night, but Merrill might not be ready to go for that one. If Merrill is forced to miss significant time, Johnson would likely see an uptick in playing time in center field, which would be a massive downgrade for the Friars. Merrill has yet to repeat his strong rookie season in 2024, when he hit 24 homers, drove in 90, and stole 16 bases, and he entered Wednesday's contest with a weak .205/.275/.324 slash line, four homers, 19 RBI, nine steals, and 23 runs in 46 games.

May 20

Randy Vásquez • SP • Padres

Randy Vasquez's Strong Start Generates Waiver-Wire Appeal

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Randy Vasquez has been highly effective in 2026, generating waiver wire interest across most fantasy baseball leagues. Through nine starts this year, Vasquez is 5-1 with a 2.68 ERA, 3.31 FIP, 8.05 K/9, and 2.32 BB/9. He was highly effective with zero runs and zero walks over six innings in his latest outing against the Mariners on Friday, and he'll have a chance to build off that success in his projected start against the Los Angeles Dodgers this Wednesday. Managers in need of a starting pitcher -- whether it's for today only, or rest-of-season -- should strongly consider Vasquez. While his strikeout numbers aren't otherworldly, he has effectively limited walks and runs while pitching deep into games. As it stands, he is available in 45% of leagues and ranks #69 among starters in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings.

May 20

Gavin Sheets • 1B • Padres

Gavin Sheets on Fire at the Plate, Hits Two More Homers in Seattle

San Diego Padres outfielder/first baseman Gavin Sheets is one of the hottest hitters in baseball right now. The 30-year-old left-handed slugger carried the Friars' offense on Sunday as they finished off another three-game sweep of the hosting Seattle Mariners in an 8-3 win, going 3-for-3 at the plate with two home runs, four RBI, and two walks to raise his season average to .262 and his OPS to .896. Both of Sheets' long balls at T-Mobile Park came off right-handed starter George Kirby. It was the second straight day that Sheets cleared the fences in Seattle, and he extended his current hitting streak to six games after starting May pretty cold offensively. During his six-game hitting streak, Sheets has gone 10-for-16 (.625) with four homers, a double, eight RBI, six runs scored, and a stolen base. He continues to produce for fantasy managers with outfield and first base eligibility, and he's now slashing .262/.340/.556 with nine total home runs, 10 doubles, 21 RBI, 19 runs scored, and three stolen bases in his 141 plate appearances in 2026.

May 18

Jackson Merrill • CF • Padres

Jackson Merrill Remains a Stolen Base Threat

San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill is off to a subpar start to the season at the plate, but he has been able to salvage his fantasy value by stealing bases. The 23-year-old has swiped eight bags this year, so he's already halfway to his career-high mark of 16. He's also taking more free passes, as his walk rate has jumped from 6.8% in 2025 to 8.7% in 2026. The bad news is that he's slashing just .221/.294/.351 with four home runs, a career-high 23.8% strikeout rate, and a career-low 84 wRC+. The steals can only help him so much in fantasy baseball, and managers would love to see him get back on track at the plate. There's hope that he'll be able to bounce back, as the Padres' everyday center fielder still checks in as the #24 outfielder in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings.

May 13

Michael King • SP • Padres

Michael King Regaining His Prior Form After Injury-Marred 2025 Campaign

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Michael King is off to a strong start to the 2026 season, as he's recorded a 3-2 record with a 2.76 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 45 strikeouts across 45 2/3 innings (eight starts). With an 11.1% walk rate, King's control remains a bit of a concern. However, the 30-year-old has gotten his ground ball rate back up to 45.8% this season after seeing it drop to a career-low 38.3% in 2025. As a result, King's HR/9 has dropped from 1.47 to 0.79, which is more in line with his career rate of 0.95. King was limited to just 15 starts in 2025 by shoulder and knee injuries, so health remains a potential red flag in his profile. Still, as long as King stays on the mound, he should provide reliable production for fantasy managers in 2026.

May 12

Randy Vásquez • SP • Padres

Randy Vasquez Emerging as a Must-Add Waiver-Wire Target

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Randy Vasquez turned in another strong performance in his team's 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday, throwing six innings of one-run ball with six strikeouts while picking up the win. The 27-year-old has been excellent so far this season for San Diego, recording a 4-1 record with a 3.05 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 42 strikeouts across 44 1/3 innings. Vasquez's strikeout rate currently sits at a career-best 23.2%, and his walk rate is down from 9.1% in 2025 to 7.2%. Vasquez's 80.6% strand rate may not be fully sustainable, but his strong 0.81 HR/9 helps him avoid blow-up innings and keeps his ERA down. Vasquez's average fastball velocity is also up to 94.8 miles per hour, a significant increase from his mark of 93.5 miles per hour in 2025. Particularly in deeper leagues, Vasquez should be scooped up off the waiver wire by fantasy managers.

May 10

Joe Musgrove • SP • Padres

Padres Move Joe Musgrove to 60-Day Injured List

The San Diego Padres announced on Thursday that they transferred right-hander Joe Musgrove (elbow) to the 60-day injured list. Musgrove had Tommy John surgery late in the 2024 season and missed the entire 2025 campaign as a result. The 33-year-old veteran was working his way back in the offseason for a potential return to San Diego's starting rotation for the start of this season, but he just has not recovered as expected, and now he won't be eligible to make his 2026 season debut until at least late May. It's unclear exactly where he's at in his throwing program to build his arm strength back up, but we'd be surprised to see Musgrove back with the Padres in the first half of the season at this point. It's becoming harder and harder to recommend holding Musgrove in single-year fantasy leagues. He's currently rostered in 22% of Yahoo leagues. The Padres could really use the rotation boost, but Musgrove's return to a big-league mound is not imminent.

May 8

Griffin Canning • SP • Padres

Griffin Canning Activation Seems Imminent

San Diego Padres pitcher Griffin Canning (Achilles) is likely to be activated on Sunday to make his 2026 debut at home and against the Chicago White Sox. The 29-year-old right-hander suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in June 2025, missing the remainder of the season as a result. Before that, he had found success as part of the New York Mets' rotation, posting a 3.77 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP over 16 starts. Since the start of the 2026 season, the veteran has been working his way back and has made five rehab outings across various minor league levels. He is someone who should be rostered in the deepest leagues, with the potential for production similar to last season.

May 2

Jeremiah Estrada • RP • Padres

Jeremiah Estrada Returns to Padres Bullpen

The San Diego Padres announced on Friday that they reinstated right-handed reliever Jeremiah Estrada (elbow) from the 15-day injured list and optioned right-hander David Morgan to Triple-A El Paso in a corresponding move. Estrada didn't look right early in the 2026 season, allowing six runs (four earned) on five hits with five walks and eight strikeouts in his first seven innings pitched, and his velocity was noticeably down as well. The Padres put him on the IL with what they called right-elbow tendinitis, and now he's been cleared to rejoin the big-league bullpen after a couple of minor-league rehab appearances. Now that he's healthy again, Estrada will return to his high-leverage, late-inning setup role in San Diego alongside right-hander Jason Adam and in front of star closer Mason Miller. In the last two seasons with the Friars, Estrada has only four saves, but he's also struck out 202 batters in 134 innings and will be valuable in holds leagues. Estrada is rostered in 11% of Yahoo leagues at the moment.

May 1

Manny Machado • 3B • Padres

Manny Machado Back in Padres Lineup as the DH

San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (calf) is serving as the designated hitter and is batting third for the Friars in Wednesday's series finale against the Chicago Cubs and right-hander Jameson Taillon at Petco Park, per MLB.com. With Machado at DH, Miguel Andujar will get the start at third base and bat sixth. The 33-year-old Machado was removed early as a precaution due to calf cramps on Monday, and he sat out of Tuesday's loss to Chicago in Game 2 of the series. Now that the seven-time All-Star is back in the starting lineup, fantasy managers will want to get him back into their starting lineups. Machado hadn't done much at the plate this year until homering twice in Mexico City on Sunday and hitting two doubles before his early exit on Monday night. He's now hitting .232/.342/.400 with a .742 OPS, four home runs, 16 RBI, 18 runs scored, and a steal in his 95 at-bats in 2026. Machado has gone hitless in just four career at-bats versus Taillon.

Apr 29

Manny Machado • 3B • Padres

Manny Machado Out After Suffering Calf Cramping on Monday

San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (calf) is not in the team's starting lineup on Tuesday for Game 2 of the series at Petco Park against the visiting Chicago Cubs, according to MLB.com. Jake Cronenworth is starting at the hot corner and will bat ninth for the Friars, with Fernando Tatis Jr. playing second base for a second straight day and batting out of the two-hole versus Cubs right-hander Edward Cabrera. Bryce Johnson is making the start for SD in right field with Tatis back on the dirt in the infield. The 33-year-old veteran was pulled from Monday's win over the Cubs early as a precaution due to calf cramping, and he's available off the bench on Tuesday. The Padres are giving the star third baseman an extra day of rest, but he's expected to be fine, and he could return as early as Wednesday's game against the Cubbies. Machado got off to a cold start offensively in 2026, but he hit two home runs on Sunday in Mexico City and had doubled twice on Monday night before leaving with his calf injury, perhaps signaling that he's on the verge of breaking out with April nearing an end. Check back on Wednesday to see if Machado is ready to play in the series finale against the Cubs.

Apr 28

Manny Machado • 3B • Padres

Manny Machado Departs Early With Undisclosed Injury on Monday

San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (undisclosed) left Monday's victory over the visiting Chicago Cubs at Petco Park early with an undisclosed injury after grounding out to end the sixth inning, according to 97.3 The Fan. It's unclear what exactly is bothering the 33-year-old veteran, but he was seen getting his calf massaged after exiting. The Padres will most likely send Machado for imaging, and we should have a better idea of his status before Game 2 of the series against the Cubs on Tuesday. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect Machado to be in the lineup on Tuesday. Ty France shifted from first base to third base on Monday night, with Gavin Sheets entering the game to play first base. If Machado is forced to miss additional time, Miguel Andujar is another candidate with experience at third base who could see playing time at the hot corner. After a slow start in 2026 at the plate, Machado hit two home runs in Mexico City on Sunday and had doubled twice before leaving Monday's contest early. The former third overall pick is now hitting .232 (22-for-95) with four homers, 16 RBI, 18 runs, and a steal. Machado is a must-stash in all fantasy formats if he lands on the injured list. UPDATE: Manager Craig Stammen said Machado was pulled on Monday for precautionary reasons.

Apr 28

Mason Miller • RP • Padres

Mason Miller Allows Three Hits, Two Runs on Monday

San Diego Padres relief pitcher Mason Miller started the season with sheer dominance over his first 13 games, allowing just three hits and picking up 27 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings. On Monday, though, the 27-year-old closer looked human, giving up two earned runs on three hits with a wild pitch on Monday night against the Cubs. It was a non-save situation since he entered with a four-run lead, so it doesn't count as a blown save. The Padres still secured the 9-7 win, and Miller will still be an elite closer option going forward. This outing just serves as a reminder that he really is human, and keeping a 0.00 ERA for the entire season isn't realistic. He's sure to get the next save chance for the Padres, and this is not a cause for concern at this point for his fantasy managers. It is noteworthy, though, since it's the first time he's been touched at all this year.

Apr 28

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