SAN DIEGO PADRES NEWS

Juan Soto - To have MRI on oblique Padres manager Bob Melvin said Tuesday that Soto will get an MRI on his strained left oblique, Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Impact Soto suffered the injury while playing in a minor-league game Sunday in Padres camp. Melvin reiterated to reporters Tuesday afternoon that the belief is it's "fairly mild" and added that the 24-year-old outfielder remains a possibility for Opening Day. Soto also dealt with a calf issue earlier this spring, though that proved to be a minor blip. Even if he doesn't appear in an exhibition game the rest of the way, the hope is that he could still suit up for the Padres on March 30 against the Rockies.

MARCH 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

World Baseball Classic 2023 odds: How to bet United States vs. Japan, expert picks

FOX Sports MLB Betting Analyst Edward Egros gives his insights and picks for the WBC championship game between the United States and Japan.

MARCH 21, 2023

Yu Darvish - Won't start WBC final against USA Darvish will not start Tuesday for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic final against Team USA, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Impact It will instead be Shota Imanaga on the mound to begin the contest. Darvish was the presumed starter for the contest, and it's likely both he and Shohei Ohtani will be available out of the bullpen for the championship contest with Darvish likely available for multiple innings. Padres manager Bob Melvin has expressed concern about the lack of innings Darvish has received in the tournament, so it'll be interesting to see how much -- if at all -- the 36-year-old pitches against USA on Tuesday.

MARCH 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Padres appear to be a super team, but a baseball season is faught with peril Even the best teams can be derailed by unforeseen circumstances such as injuries, poor performance and lack of depth

MARCH 20, 2023 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM

Nick Martinez - Returns from WBC Martinez has returned to the Padres after playing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, 97.3 The Fan San Diego reports.

Impact Though Team USA remains alive in the tournament and is set to face Japan or Mexico in the final Tuesday, Martinez has opted to return to Padres camp to prepare for the regular season. The right-handed hurler pitched in one WBC game, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out two batters over 2.2 innings against Mexico. Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Martinez's decision to rejoin San Diego stems from the fact that he wasn't scheduled to pitch again for Team USA. He's slated to fill a spot at the back end of the Padres' rotation this season.

MARCH 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Padres' Juan Soto, Austin Nola exit games with injuries Juan Soto was removed from a “B” game with, according to the team’s initial diagnosis, a mild left oblique strain.

MARCH 20, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Austin Nola - May have broken nose Padres manager Bob Melvin said Sunday that he "can't imagine it's not broken" in reference to Nola's nose after the catcher was hit in the face during a Cactus League contest, Denn...

Impact Nola was carted off the field after getting hit by a pitch in the face during the fourth inning of Sunday's exhibition game against the Cubs. The extent of the injury is unclear, but if Nola isn't ready to return in time for Opening Day, Luis Campusano would likely open the campaign as San Diego's primary backstop.

MARCH 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Juan Soto - Day-to-day with oblique issue Soto was removed from a minor-league spring game as a precautionary measure due to a mild oblique strain Sunday, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Impact Soto's oblique issue is considered mild, and he's being labeled as day-to-day following his departure. Although the Padres are downplaying the severity of his injury, it's somewhat concerning to see the 24-year-old develop an oblique injury with a week and a half remaining until Opening Day. Soto will presumably be monitored further in the coming days, but it wouldn't be surprising to see the Padres monitor his workload over the final few Cactus League games, especially since he also dealt with a left calf issue in late February and early March.

MARCH 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Martinez back from Classic; Teheran returns to form MESA, Ariz. -- The last time Nick Martinez started a game, there were 47,534 fans roaring in the seats of Chase Field at the World Baseball...

MARCH 20, 2023 • MLB.COM

Padres evaluating Nola after scary HBP, pondering catching depth MESA, Ariz. -- Padres catcher Austin Nola exited Sunday’s Cactus League contest vs. the Cubs early after he was hit in the face by a pitch f...

MARCH 20, 2023 • MLB.COM

Padres' Austin Nola takes pitch off nose, forced from loss to Cubs Catcher Austin Nola leaves Sunday's game after a runaway pitch hit him in nose, bringing the Padres' catching depth into question as opening...

MARCH 19, 2023 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM

Dennis Lin: Bob Melvin said Austin Nola was hit square in... - The Athletic Bob Melvin said Austin Nola was hit square in the nose by the errant pitch in the fourth inning. "I can't imagine it's not broken," Melvin s...

MARCH 19, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Austin Nola - Carted off field Nola was carted off the field in the top of the fourth inning during Sunday's Cactus League game against the Cubs after being hit in the face by a pitch, Meghan Montemurro of the C...

Impact Nola was down for several minutes after being hit by the pitch, and he had to be helped to the cart while pressing a towel to his face. The Padres have a day off Monday, but the severity of the catcher's injury isn't yet clear. If Nola is forced to miss any time, Luis Campusano and Pedro Severino would see additional playing time behind the dish.

MARCH 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

AP source: Rockies sign Profar to shore up outfield

A person familiar with the negotiations says the Colorado Rockies have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with outfielder Jurickson Profar

MARCH 19, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Timmy Lopes - Putting up big spring numbers Lopes is slashing .441/.462/.618 with a home run, eight RBI, eight runs and six stolen bases in Cactus League play, and he's in contention for one of the Padres' final roster spots...

Impact Lopes hasn't done much as a major leaguer to this point in his career, slashing .246/.310/.352 with three homers and 11 steals over 290 career plate appearances. However, he's turning heads this spring with his standout play, as he's tied for third among all players in hits (15) and stolen bases (six). Lopes last played in the majors with Milwaukee in 2021, logging just 11 at-bats and notching one hit, but Acee suggests that he may have a chance to break camp with San Diego on the strength of his spring showing. He's likely in competition with Rougned Odor, Jose Azocar and David Dahl -- each of whom has been productive in exhibition play as well -- for what figures to be the two final spots on the Padres' bench.

MARCH 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Jose Azocar - Making case for roster spot Azocar has strengthened his chance of making the Padres' Opening Day roster with a strong spring, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Impact Acee reports that there are four players -- Azocar, David Dahl, Tim Lopes and Rougned Odor -- who are likely in the running for the final two bench spots on the 26-man roster. Lopes has had the best spring of the bunch -- he's slashing .441/.462/.618 with a home run, eight RBI and six stolen bases -- but Azocar has looked good as well, slashing .303/.342/.606 with a homer, nine RBI and three thefts. Both Dahl and Odor have also been productive, so San Diego may have a difficult decision in deciding whom to keep on the Opening Day roster. One factor working in Azocar's favor, per Acee, is that he can provide solid defense at all three outfield spots, which is not the case for any of the other three players he's competing with.

MARCH 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Drew Pomeranz - Tosses 25 pitches in sim game Pomeranz (elbow) threw 25 pitches in a simulated inning Thursday, per MLB.com.

Impact This was Pomeranz's second sim game of the spring, and it's possible that he'll get into a Cactus League contest in the coming week. The right-hander missed all of last season after undergoing flexor tendon surgery in his left elbow, but he's expected to be a big part of San Diego's bullpen in 2023. Pomeranz is tentatively on track to be ready to go for Opening Day.

MARCH 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Pepper-grinder move unwelcome in Japan high school tourney

Lars Nootbaar’s imaginary pepper-grinder was the talk of World Baseball Classic games in Japan, but the fun-loving gesture by the St. Louis Cardinals outfielder does not appear wel...

MARCH 19, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Josh Hader - Three scoreless appearances in ST Hader has yet to give up a run in his three innings of work in the Cactus League.

Impact The left-hander has had some command issues in Arizona with a walk, a hit-by-pitch and a wild pitch, but he's also allowed just two hits with a pair of strikeouts. Hader had the most ups-and-downs of his career in 2022 with a 5.22 ERA between the Brewers and the Padres, but the stuff is still elite, and he should have plenty of save chances for the Padres in 2023.

MARCH 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

'It will be fun to see': Padres provide a glimpse of their full-strength offense "Our lineup, there's good hitters one through nine," Ryan Weathers said, "so there really is no lineup protection."

MARCH 19, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Padres notes: Tough math for early-season rotation equation; loaded lineup shows length; Crone Zone Bob Melvin indicates six-man rotation not option until Joe Musgrove returns; Padres offense shows what it can do in mounting comeback

MARCH 19, 2023 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM

Jake Cronenworth - Two-run homer in victory Cronenworth hit a two-run home run Saturday in a Cactus League victory over the Brewers.

Impact Cronenworth blasted a shot off Jake Cousins with a runner on in the fifth inning. It's the infielder's second homer of the spring season, and he's knocked in seven runs. On top of that production, Cronenworth has hit a commendable .412/.487/.735 in Arizona, and he looks like a strong candidate to bounce back from his disappointing 2022 campaign.

MARCH 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Nick Martinez leaves Team USA at WBC, returns to Padres camp

San Diego Padres pitcher Nick Martinez left the World Baseball Classic on Saturday after he wasn’t guaranteed to start for Team USA for the rest of the event

MARCH 18, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jorge Alfaro's 2-run home run | 03/18/2023 Jorge Alfaro smashes a no-doubter to bring home Niko Goodrum and extend the Red Sox's lead over the Orioles to 7-4

MARCH 18, 2023 • MLB.COM

Jackson Merrill - Reassigned to minor league camp Merrill was reassigned to minor-league camp by the Padres on Saturday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Impact Merrill was never a candidate to make the Opening Day roster, but the top prospect in the San Diego system got a chance to participate in MLB camp. The 21-year-old has a great chance to hit for average and steal bases when he is ready to contribute, and it could be as soon as the end of 2023 if he performs well at the upper levels.

MARCH 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE