The San Diego Padres faced a setback ahead of their game against the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers when star right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. was sidelined due to a bruised left triceps. Tatis sustained the injury in Friday night’s game after being hit by a pitch just above his elbow. Despite running the bases and taking his position in right field for a couple of innings, Tatis was eventually replaced by a pinch-hitter in the fifth inning. Although manager Mike Shildt downplayed the seriousness of the injury, Tatis is expected to be sore in the coming days.
Alongside Tatis, left fielder Jurickson Profar was also absent from the Padres’ lineup due to ongoing patellar tendinitis in his left knee. Profar exited Friday night’s game after hitting a double in the seventh inning, adding to the team’s injury concerns. With Profar sidelined, David Peralta stepped in to start in right field, while Tyler Wade assumed the role of left fielder for the Padres.
To add to the Padres’ woes, catcher Luis Campusano was placed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to Friday due to a bruised left thumb. Campusano was a late scratch for Friday night’s game, further depleting the team’s roster. In response to Campusano’s absence, the Padres recalled catcher Brett Sullivan from Triple-A El Paso to provide depth at the position.
Despite the injuries plaguing the Padres, there was a glimmer of hope with the announcement that right-hander Yu Darvish is scheduled to be activated from his second stint on the injured list. Darvish is expected to start against the Washington Nationals in the upcoming series, offering some much-needed reinforcement to the Padres’ pitching rotation. Manager Mike Shildt expressed optimism about Darvish’s return, providing a silver lining amid the team’s injury woes.
The San Diego Padres find themselves grappling with multiple key players sidelined due to various injuries. While the extent of Tatis and Profar’s injuries remains to be seen, the Padres will need to adapt and rely on their depth to weather the storm. As they navigate through this challenging period, the Padres will look to regroup and stay competitive in the NL Central race.