LATEST NEWS

May 16: RHP Seth Lugo exits with calf strain 
Lugo strained a calf muscle while breaking to cover first base at the end of the second inning of the Padres' 5-4 loss to the Royals on Tuesday night. Lugo said he underwent imaging, which revealed the strain to be "mild," though manager Bob Melvin noted that it's unlikely Lugo would make his next start.

Fortunately for the Padres, they have off-days forthcoming on both Thursday and Monday, so they won't need a potential replacement until at least May 24. Left-hander Ryan Weathers has been the team's No. 6 starter this season, moving between Triple-A and the Majors, depending on where he's needed. He's an obvious option to be recalled to replace Lugo. Right-hander Nick Martinez, who opened the year in the rotation but has since transitioned to the bullpen, is also a candidate.

Lugo was off to a nice start to the season, having posted a 3.18 ERA across seven starts entering play Tuesday. But he allowed five runs over two innings against the Royals before sustaining the injury. It's unclear whether he will require an IL stint.

May 16: 3B Manny Machado sits after HBP
A day after Machado was hit by a pitch on the left hand, he was out of the starting lineup against the Royals on Tuesday. Machado is experiencing soreness and swelling, but X-rays came back negative. It seems likely the Padres would play it safe by also sitting Machado on Wednesday for the series finale ahead of an off-day Thursday. But Padres manager Bob Melvin noted that "it doesn't look to be anything serious" and added there's no expectation that Machado would require an injured list stint.

May 15: RHP Drew Carlton joins team; LHP Ryan Weathers sent down 
With two off-days ahead in the coming week, the Padres optioned Weathers to Triple-A El Paso after his spot start Sunday against the Dodgers so he can continue to get regular work as a starter. The Padres selected the contract of Carlton, a 27-year-old reliever who had a 1.13 ERA in 13 appearances with El Paso, spanning 16 innings. Carlton had a 2.92 ERA over nine MLB games with the Tigers from 2021-22 and signed with the Padres as a Minor League free agent in December. He was in big league camp as a non-roster invitee and held opponents to a .133 batting average in eight Cactus League outings.

Veteran left-hander Drew Pomeranz was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL to open a spot on the 40-man roster.

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INJURY UPDATES

10-day and 15-day IL

OF José Azocar (left elbow inflammation)
Expected return: Potentially June
Azocar recently reported to the team's training complex in Peoria, Ariz., where he has begun getting live at-bats. The next step for Azocar would be a rehab stint with Triple-A El Paso, though it's unclear when that might begin. Azocar's elbow issue began in late April during a hitting drill. When the injury lingered, the Padres opted to place him on the 10-day IL on May 5. He was shut down from baseball activity while the swelling in his elbow subsided. (Last updated: May 16)

OF David Dahl (right quad strain)
Expected return: Late May
Dahl's recovery lasted a bit longer than the team originally anticipated, but he began a rehab stint with Triple-A El Paso on May 12 and went 4-for-14 with a home run over his first three games. That could line him up for a return before the end of May. It's unclear what role he'd fill with the big league club, but the Padres could use better left-handed-hitting production off their bench. Dahl sustained the injury while warming up in the outfield at some point during the team's series in Atlanta from April 6-9. (Last updated: May 15)

RHP Nabil Crismatt (left hip strain)
Expected return: Late May
Crismatt had been pitching through some hip trouble, and he allowed 12 earned runs in 10 innings across his first six appearances. He landed on the IL on April 19. Crismatt is set to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A El Pason "in the next couple of days," Padres manager Bob Melvin said. (Last updated: May 15)

C Luis Campusano (left thumb sprain)
Expected return: July
Campusano underwent surgery to repair a ligament in his left thumb on May 12, and manager Bob Melvin noted a timetable of at least eight weeks before Campusano returns. That likely rules out the Padres' backstop until sometime around the All-Star break. Campusano sustained the injury while catching a bullpen session in mid-April. The Padres were initially hopeful for a quick return, but Campusano continually aggravated the injury during catching drills. That prompted the decision for Campusano to undergo surgery to fully heal the damaged ligament. (Last updated: May 12)

LHP José Castillo (left shoulder strain)
Expected return: Late May or early June
Castillo was shut down from throwing during Padres camp as he dealt with soreness in his throwing shoulder. But he resumed throwing bullpen sessions by the end of Spring Training, and he began a rehab stint with Triple-A El Paso on May 9. It's unclear when Castillo might be available. The Padres will proceed with caution, considering his lengthy injury history. (Last updated: May 10)

60-day IL

RHP Robert Suarez (right elbow inflammation)
Expected return: June
Suarez is dealing with joint inflammation in the back of his right elbow, according to team officials. He underwent tests, including an MRI, that revealed no structural damage, and he played catch several times in early April. But Suarez continued to feel tightness as he ramped up that throwing program and was shut down. He recently started throwing again with a Plyo ball -- a soft rubber ball that allows pitchers to go through their progressions without a throwing partner. An invaluable late-innings weapon who signed a five-year contract in November, Suarez's absence is being felt in the Padres' bullpen. "He's finally starting to throw, and that's obviously good for us," Padres manager Bob Melvin said. (Last updated: May 15)

LHP Adrian Morejon (left elbow sprain)
Expected return: June
An MRI on Morejon's left elbow revealed no structural damage, though he landed on the 60-day IL on March 30. His throwing progression began in mid-April, and he began ramping up his bullpen sessions in early May -- up to 40 pitches, manager Bob Melvin said. Next, Morejon will throw to hitters on May 16 at the team's training complex in Peoria, Ariz. Morejon will be built up to throw multiple innings, though Melvin noted that his likeliest role upon his return would be in the bullpen. "When he comes back," Melvin said, "he's a guy we want to have the ability to go to for at least two or three innings." (Last updated: May 15)

LHP Drew Pomeranz (left flexor tendon surgery)
Expected return: June or July
Pomeranz, who missed the 2022 season following the procedure, experienced yet another setback during a rehab outing with Triple-A El Paso on April 25, when he experienced discomfort in his throwing arm. That discomfort had mostly subsided by early May, and he began playing catch shortly thereafter. It remains unclear when he will return to a mound, however. When healthy, Pomeranz is a weapon, but he simply hasn't been healthy during the life of his four-year contract, pitching just 44 1/3 innings in that time, all from 2020-21 -- with a 1.62 ERA. (Last updated: May 15)

INF Eguy Rosario (left ankle fracture)
Expected return: Midseason
Rosario, the Padres' No. 8 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, sustained the injury during winter ball workouts and is expected to miss most of the season's first half. He was placed the 60-day injured list on Feb. 16, but he began playing in extended Spring Training games in mid-May. (Last updated: May 12)

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