San Diego Padres DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

San Diego Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth (ribs) is progressing well in his recovery and is optimistic that he could return to action earlier than expected. The infielder was placed on the 10-day injured list on April 11 due to a rib fracture. His initial timeline suggested he would miss at least 4-to-6 weeks. However, the infielder has begun taking groundballs and dry swings, which could open the door for an earlier return. Fantasy managers should continue to keep an eye on his progression as he slowly increases his workload. Before the injury, Cronenworth held a .257/.409/.486 slash line with two doubles and two home runs across 12 contests. He drew walks at an elite 18.2 percent rate. While the 31-year-old remains out, Jose Iglesias should see most of the work at the keystone.

San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill (hamstring) will likely not return to action next week. According to manager Mike Shildt, it is "a little aggressive" to expect the budding star back in the starting nine next week. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progression, but it appears the former top prospect will have to wait at least another week before returning. Merrill was enjoying an impressive start to the campaign as he posted a .378/.415/.676 slash line across 10 contests. During this hot start, he tallied two doubles, hit three home runs, and swiped a bag. Before the injury, the Padres signed the 22-year-old to a massive nine-year extension, suggesting he will be the everyday center fielder in San Diego for the next decade. While he remains sidelined, fantasy managers should expect Tyler Wade and Connor Joe to share time in center field.

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Martin Perez (forearm) is set to undergo an MRI on Saturday. The southpaw was lifted from Saturday's contest in the third inning after feeling soreness in his forearm. Before exiting the contest, Perez allowed five hits, two walks, and four earned runs. Despite his struggles on Friday, Perez was enjoying an impressive start to the young season. In his first three outings, the left-hander tossed 17 innings to the tune of a 1.59 ERA and an impressive 1.06 WHIP. He struck out 18 batters and served up nine walks. However, he already began to see some regression on Friday as he has generated a hefty 6.54 xERA and a .293 xBA. If the 34-year-old were to miss time, fantasy managers should expect the White Sox to promote a pitcher from Triple-A to fill his spot in the rotation.

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Martin Perez (forearm) was forced to exit early during Friday's game against the Boston Red Sox. The southpaw didn't have favorable results before exiting the contest. Perez allowed five hits, four earned runs, and two walks in three innings of work. He was pulled from the game due to left forearm tightness. The expectation is that Perez will undergo further imaging to determine the severity of the issue. For now, Perez can be considered day-to-day, but could end up on the injured list. Fantasy managers can hold Perez for now who has been solid with two earned runs or less in all of his starts prior to Friday's game.

San Diego Padres relief pitcher Robert Suarez earned his MLB-leading eighth save of the season on Wednesday night against the Cubs to secure the series win over Chicago. Suarez retired the side in order on just eight pitches, preserving a 4-2 victory. Suarez has been absolutely dominant this season, allowing just three hits and two walks across nine scoreless innings. He has 10 strikeouts in nine games and has converted each of his eight save opportunities. The Padres lead the MLB with 15 wins, and Suarez is one of many things that have gone right for them. The 34-year-old righty remains one of the elite closers in baseball right now.