The Padres ended their first half with a 6-3 loss to the Braves, while San Diego enters the All-Star break with a 50-49 record and a +12 differential. Although the race for the National League wild card is still very tight, the Padres are one game out of a playoff spot and have a good chance to make a run in the second half, although they will need good health and continued production from their top players. to make it happen.
With this in mind, Luis Arraez told reporters (including Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune) today that he will not play in Tuesday's All-Star Game. Arraez was named to the NL bench team and will still attend the festivities in Arlington as his parents and sister will be attending the Midsummer Classic for the first time, but the infielder will not play because “I need the rest” because of his injured left thumb.
Arraez dislocated his thumb while sliding into third base during the Padres' 9-7 win over the Nationals on June 25, and since then has tried to play through the discomfort whenever he fielded or swung. Scans didn't reveal any damage to the thumb, but Arraez recently told Acee and company that he's been wrapping the thumb throughout the game.
“I don't feel 100%. But every time I touch the touchline, I want to give 100 percent to the manager and my teammates,” Arraez said.
It's a testament to Arraez's strength and skill that he continues to hit even though he's playing through this pain, even if his power has been greatly reduced by his thumb injury. Arraez is hitting .309/.321/.346 over 56 hits in the 13 games he's played since injuring his thumb, yet only two of his 17 hits have been for extra bases (both doubles). Although Arraez is known for his hitting touch moreso than his power, that .346 slugging percentage is well below the .427 career mark he posted in his first five MLB seasons with the Twins and Marlins.
Fernando Tatis Jr. and hopes to make a move to return to the field when he undergoes an MRI during the All-Star break. Tatis was placed on the 10-day injured list June 22 because of a right femoral stress reaction, and he told The Athletic's Dennis Lin and other reporters Friday that he no longer feels pain in his right leg. That's good news given the injury uncertainty, although Tatis says he will “definitely” play again in 2024, he had no further updates on when he might be able to return.
The fact that the injury proved to be season-ending is troubling, and in itself is a sign that Tatis is not out of the woods of being on the road to full health. An upcoming MRI will shed some light on the recovery timetable, and for now, Tatis' baseball-related activity is limited to dry pitching only.
From linear damage to rotational damage, Joe Musgrove A full bullpen session is expected on Wednesday. Musgrove is eligible to return from the 60-day IL when his minimum time off is up in late July, but his return from a sprained right elbow will be delayed until August as the righty is in his prime. to throw forward. Like Acee, Musgrove will be limited to throwing only fastballs in his first few sessions in the bullpen.
Between this IL stint and another 10-day IL visit due to triceps tendinitis earlier in the season, Musgrove threw just 49 1/3 innings in 2024, and struggled to a 5.66 ERA. This marks the second straight injury-plagued year for Musgrove, as a broken toe and shoulder inflammation limited him to 97 1/3 innings in 2023, though he was very effective while pitching, posting a 3.05 ERA.
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