The Padres stay on the outer fringes of the NL wild card race, as San Diego is seven video games behind the Diamondbacks for the ultimate wild card berth, and the Marlins, Reds, and Giants are all sandwiched between Arizona and San Diego within the standings. Barring a miraculous September surge, it seems prefer it’s only a matter of time earlier than the Padres are eradicated from the playoff race, which may additionally carry an early finish to Manny Machado’s season.
In accordance with Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, it’s attainable Machado may be shut down on account of recurring elbow issues, particularly the kind of irritation finest referred to as “tennis elbow.” That is the second straight season that Machado has handled the harm, and he may go for an offseason surgical procedure that shouldn’t affect his readiness for the beginning of Spring Coaching.
Whereas tennis elbow doesn’t normally require surgical procedure, it may be essential to lastly clear up an harm that has been bothering the third baseman for the higher a part of two years. “The consequences not too long ago are extra frequent and extreme,” Acee writes, noting that Machado has been restricted to DH-only responsibility over his final seven video games. Even in a hitting-only function, Acee hears that “there are specific swings that trigger [Machado] quite a lot of ache.”
The harm hasn’t resulted in any time on the injured checklist for Machado, although he did miss a few weeks earlier within the season on account of a minor hand fracture. Nevertheless, the lingering elbow downside may clarify Machado’s comparatively disappointing season, as he has hit .253/.317/.453 with 26 homers over 545 plate appearances. Whereas nonetheless a 112 wRC+, it’s properly beneath Machado’s requirements, notably compared to the 153 wRC+ he posted in 2022 whereas ending second in NL MVP voting.
Machado’s efficiency has been certainly one of many components in a really disappointing season for the Padres, who’re 67-75 regardless of one of many recreation’s highest payrolls and a +73 run differential. With a playoff berth wanting like a longshot at finest, there wouldn’t be a lot of a value for the Padres in shutting down Machado and getting his rehab (whether or not involving a surgical procedure or not) underway as rapidly as attainable to get a soar begin on 2024.
