San Diego Padres DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

San Diego Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (forearm) was forced to exit early during Friday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 26-year-old was hit in the forearm by a pitch from Mitch Keller in the third inning. Tatis appeared to be obvious pain and was immediately removed from the game. The assumption is that Tatis will undergo further testing to determine the severity of the injury. For now, Tatis should be considered day-to-day, but fantasy managers should get another update on his status soon. Oscar Gonzalez took over in right field with Tatis exiting early. Gonzalez could see more playing time in the future if Tatis is forced to miss time from this issue.

San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill (hamstring) is "towards the finish line" of his rehab, according to manager Mike Shildt. Merrill has spent a couple days at the team's spring training complex in Arizona this week taking live at-bats, and it's unclear if he'll require a minor-league rehab assignment before being activated from the 10-day injured list. The 22-year-old landed on the IL on April 8 with a right-hamstring strain but is knocking on the door to return to the big-league roster, possibly by the end of the weekend series in Pittsburgh against the Pirates if he doesn't need a rehab assignment. If he doesn't rejoin the Padres this weekend, it could come next week in the Bronx against the New York Yankees. Merrill was a first-time All-Star in his rookie season in 2024 and was squaring the ball up regularly before his injury in 10 games, going 14-for-37 with three homers and 10 RBI.

San Diego Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth (rib) has been cleared for all baseball activities and was sent to the team's spring training complex in Arizona for live at-bats, starting on Thursday, May 1. Cronenworth's non-displaced right-rib fracture won't fully heal for another few weeks, but he could return from the 10-day injured list before it does. The 31-year-old was placed on the IL back on April 11 for an injury that occurred when he was hit by a pitch in Chicago against the Cubs early in the season. If Cronenworth is required to go on a minor-league rehab assignment, which is likely, he probably won't be back with the big-league roster for another few weeks. When healthy, he'll return to regular duties at second base, which will push veteran Jose Iglesias back to a bench role. Cronenworth was hitting .257 (9-for-35) with two homers, five RBI and seven runs before going on the IL.

The San Diego Padres announced on Friday that they reinstated outfielder Brandon Lockridge (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list and optioned outfield prospect Tirso Ornelas to Triple-A El Paso in a corresponding move. Lockridge didn't require a minor-league rehab assignment despite being out since mid-April with a strained left hamstring. The 28-year-od is not in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener in Pittsburgh against the Pirates and will most likely just be a short-side platoon option for the Friars in left field when they face left-handed pitching. Lockridge went just 6-for-31 (.194) with no home runs, an RBI, three runs and three RBI in a bench role before getting injured. Ornelas, the club's No. 11 prospect per MLB Pipeline, will head back to the farm for more development after going 1-for-14 with an RBI in his first seven big-league games.

The Texas Rangers have placed catcher Kyle Higashioka (ribs) on the 10-day injured list on Thursday with a mild left-intercostal strain. Higashioka was held out of action on Wednesday due to a reported hamstring injury, but it appears the backstop also has an upper-body injury as well. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on his status while he remains sidelined. Before his injury, Higashioka was splitting catching duties with Jonah Heim. Across 17 games this season, Higashioka posted a .254/.279/.390 slash line with five doubles and one home run. Under the hood, he generated a modest .310 xwOBA but only struck out at a 16.4 percent rate. While he remains sidelined, fantasy managers should expect Heim to see the vast majority of opportunities behind the dish.