It seems like things are going from bad to worse for the Friars as their star slugger Manny Machado finds himself on the 10-day injured list with a hairline fracture in his left hand.
The injury occurred earlier this week when Machado was hit by a pitch. Manager Bob Melvin told reporters that he’s hopeful that Machado can return when the Padres face the New York Yankees next weekend, but for now, they’re playing it safe and giving him time to recover. Melvin emphasized the importance of not pushing Machado too hard, highlighting that the third baseman has shown his ability to play through pain in the past. The Padres are looking to get ahead of the injury and ensure Machado is 100 percent when they hit the Big Apple.
Machado’s absence is a significant blow to San Diego, who are already struggling this season. Currently sitting at 20-25, the club finds themselves in 4th place in the NL West, 8.5 games back of the division leading Dodgers. The entire lineup, including Machado, has been underperforming, with the slugger batting just .231 with five homers and 19 RBIs. This is a far cry from his All-Star calibre seasons in the past and his runner-up finish in the NL MVP race last year. Simply put, the Padres need their star players to step up if they want to turn their season around.
To fill Machado’s spot on the roster, the Padres have called up Brandon Dixon from Triple-A El Paso. Dixon, an infielder/outfielder, will provide some depth and versatility to the lineup. However, it remains to be seen if he can make a significant impact and help the Padres climb out of their current slump.
In addition to Machado’s injury, the Padres also had to place right-hander Seth Lugo on the 15-day IL due to a right calf strain. In his place, left-hander Ryan Weathers has been recalled from El Paso. These injuries further exacerbate the Padres’ struggles, as they have now lost 10 of their last 12 games.
This is a tough pill to swallow for the Padres and their fans. After making a deep playoff run last season, expectations were high for this team, with many envisioning a potential World Series appearance. However, injuries and underperformance have derailed their aspirations in the early going. The Padres will need to regroup, get healthy, and find their groove if they want any chance of salvaging their season.
The Padres have the talent to turn things around, but they’ll need a combination of luck, skill, and grit to climb back into contention. As fans eagerly await Machado’s return and hope for a resurgence, the Padres must find a way to weather the storm and rediscover their winning ways.
San Diego is next in action Saturday at 10:10pm ET vs. the Boston Red Sox.
Photo: Ryan Casey Aguinaldo. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.