Manny Machado’s rough season hit another snag Monday night, and this one came with a physical explanation.
After the Padres’ loss to the Pirates, manager Craig Stammen said the San Diego third baseman is dealing with a bruise on the inside of his index finger. The issue flares up when Machado makes contact off the end of the bat, and Stammen said Machado will wear a sleeve to try to manage it.
“He’s got a little sleeve that he’s going to wear now, and hopefully it’s not something that lingers for very long,” Stammen said, per Annie Heilbrunn of The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Machado has been in the middle of an underwhelming eighth season with the Padres, putting up a .215 batting average, .304 on-base percentage and .711 OPS while also collecting 24 home runs and 72 RBIs. The power has still shown up, but the consistent contact that has defined his career has not.
That’s part of what makes this latest setback tricky for San Diego. Machado is signed through the 2033 season on an 11-year, $350 million extension, so the Padres are locked into trusting him to rebound.
The timing also isn’t ideal. Monday’s loss to Pittsburgh was already a frustrating one for San Diego, which came up empty in extra innings despite multiple chances with runners in scoring position. Then came the news about Machado.
For now, his status should be considered day to day, and it’s not clear whether he’ll be in the lineup Tuesday against the Pirates.
The Padres can’t really afford to be without him, even with his uneven year. San Diego currently holds the final NL wild card spot by itself, with the Arizona Diamondbacks only two games back.
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Manny Machado Issue Just Became A Bigger Padres Concern
Manny Machados hand has become a little more than a day-to-day nuisance for the Padres, even if he has kept taking the field. Craig Stammen confirmed Machado is dealing with a bruise on the inside of his index finger, the kind of small injury that can still be aggravating every time he makes contact, and the club is planning to have him wear a protective sleeve as it keeps an eye on how he responds.
Machado has continued to play every game, which is part of why this bears watching closely rather than sounding the alarm immediately. For a Padres team that leans on his presence in the middle of the lineup and on the infield, any lingering irritation that affects his swing is the sort of issue that can quietly grow into something more consequential if it does not ease up. [Read more 🡒]
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There was more churn on the pitching side, too, with the team officially releasing a former Dodgers arm as it continues to sort out the back end of the roster. Craig Stammen also weighed in on Ty Frances place in the mix, pointing to his role and leadership while France heads toward free agency, another reminder that the Padres are balancing the present against what comes next at the same time. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Reach A Crucial Week With Two Rotation Arms
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For San Diego, the timing matters because the rotation has been waiting on help from two arms with different but equally important paths back. Musgroves next start could be his final one before a major league return, and Pivettas restart offers a fresh sign that he is getting back on track after the interruption, even if the team still has to see how his body responds in game action. [Read more 🡒]