San Diego Padres DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

The Texas Rangers reinstated catcher Kyle Higashioka (intercostal) from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday, according to the Dallas Morning News' Evan Grant. The Rangers haven't released their starting lineup for Tuesday's contest against the visiting Colorado Rockies yet, so fantasy managers will want to check back before throwing Higgy back into their starting lineups. The 35-year-old veteran backstop played in only two minor-league rehab games and will return to split duties behind the plate with Jonah Heim in Texas. Higashioka broke out with the San Diego Padres in 2024 for a career year with 17 home runs and 45 RBI, but he hit just .220 and won't have nearly as much fantasy value in Texas as he splits playing time essentially down the middle with Heim. He'll return to a .254/.279/.390 slash line with just one homer and eight RBI in 17 games played this year.

San Diego Padres right-hander Yu Darvish (elbow) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A El Paso on Wednesday, manager Mike Shildt announced on Monday night. Darvish tossed 48 pitches during a simulated game last week and is now ready to face live hitters in a game environment as he works his way back from right-elbow inflammation that he first experienced in mid-March during spring training. The 38-year-old has yet to make his 2025 debut, and the Padres aren't going to rush the Japanese veteran back into their starting rotation, so fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if he doesn't come off the injured list until sometime in late May or early June. The five-time All-Star is past his prime and in the twilight of his career, but he still offered fantasy managers a solid 3.31 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 16 starts last year, albeit with a career-low 23.6% strikeout rate.

San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill (illness) is back in center field and is batting in the cleanup spot for Monday's series opener against the visiting Los Angeles Angels and left-hander Yusei Kikuchi at Petco Park. Merrill was scratched from the lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Colorado Rockies in Denver because he was feeling under the weather, but he's good to go now and should be returned to all starting lineups in redraft leagues despite a lefty-lefty matchup against a pitcher he's never faced. The 22-year-old former 27th overall pick has been outstanding in his 56 at-bats for the Friars this year, going 25-for-56 (.446) with four home runs, 16 RBI, 12 runs and a stolen base. Since returning from an injured-list stint due to a hamstring injury, Merrill has a four-game hitting streak in which he's gone 11-for-19 with a homer, two doubles, six RBI and five runs scored.

San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill (illness) was removed from Sunday's lineup due to an illness. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on his status leading up to their next contest on Monday evening against the Los Angeles Angels. Merrill recently returned from the 10-day injured list earlier this week and has picked up right where he left off, holding a stellar .579/.600/.842 slash line with two doubles, one home run, and six RBI. Before his injury, the former top prospect posted a strong .378/.415/.676 slash line with two doubles and three long balls during his first 10 games of the season. This afternoon, Merrill will be replaced by Tyler Wade, who will cover center field and bat in the nine-hole. The Padres are a strong team to target in DFS, facing Colorado right-hander German Marquez, who carries a high 9.90 ERA.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Stephen Kolek twirled a gem on Saturday, tossing a complete-game shutout in his second career start in the majors, picking up the win in a 21-0 blowout victory over the Rockies. The 28-year-old scattered five hits and two walks over nine innings while striking out seven. A week ago, the righty tossed five and one-third innings of shutout ball, leaving his ERA at a spotless 0.00 after two starts. The former 11th-round draft pick threw 46 2/3 IP for the Padres in his debut last season, but as a reliever, so this is somewhat uncharted waters for him, although he's worked as a starter in the minors. The 6-foot-3 hurler's next start lines up with a surprisingly stout Mariner lineup, and his recent success should allow the Padres to give Yu Darvish (elbow) as much time as he needs to build up his arm for a return to the mound.