San Diego Padres DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

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.

MLB.com's AJ Cassavell writes that the San Diego Padres are hopeful that right-hander Yu Darvish (elbow), who has been out since mid-March with right-elbow inflammation, will rejoin the starting rotation at some point in May. Darvish threw another bullpen session last Friday and was able to mix in a heavier dose of breaking balls. His ramp-up has been slow because of the fact that he hadn't fully built up his arm in spring training when he was sidelined. The Japanese veteran is at least several weeks off but could move to facing live hitters in the near future. Darvish is expected to need around three or four bullpen sessions before he's cleared to face live hitters. The 38-year-old was avoided by many fantasy managers in spring drafts to his injury, and rightfully so, but he'll be a waiver-wire pickup as he gets closer to a 2025 debut. The four-time All-Star had a 3.31 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in his 16 starts in 2024.

Texas Rangers catcher Kyle Higashioka (hamstring) is managing a hamstring injury. Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reported that the backstop may need an IL stint but is currently day-to-day. Earlier on Wednesday, the Rangers added veteran backstop Tucker Barnhart to the active roster, which suggests Higashioka may miss a period of time. Over his last five games, Higashioka has begun to heat up at the plate, as he has gone 5-for-19 with two doubles and three RBI. Through 17 games this season, the 35-year-old has posted a .254/.279/.390 slash line with just one home run. Under the hood, Higashioka has generated a modest .310 xwOBA but has shown a strong eye at the plate as he has only struck out 16.4 percent of the time. If he were to miss time, Jonah Heim would see the majority of starts behind the dish.