On Saturday night, the San Diego Padres will continue their three-game series against the Minnesota Twins at Petco Park.
Most recently, the Padres won the series opener 6-2.
Pitcher Joe Musgrove has yet to appear in a game this season for the San Diego Padres.
San Diego Padres Announce Joe Musgrove News
With the San Diego Padres in the middle of the playoff race, the team announced some news on All-Star pitcher Joe Musgrove.
CBS Sports posted on their website that Musgrove likely needed another rehab start before potentially re-joining San Diego’s rotation. CBS Sports wrote: “Padres manager Craig Stammen said that Musgrove (elbow) will throw a bullpen session this weekend before likely making a final minor-league rehab start during the upcoming week, 97.3 The Fan San Diego reports.
Musgrove most recently made his third rehab start Aug. 14 with Triple-A El Paso, striking out five while allowing five earned runs on nine hits and one walk.”
Regarding why Musgrove did not re-join the rotation, the San Diego Union-Tribune’s Kevin Acee wrote: “Joe Musgrove (elbow) was also back with the Padres after having perhaps his last rehab start pushed back to do a minor back injury that popped up in the wake of his previous start with Triple-A El Paso. Musgrove will throw a bullpen this weekend at Petco Park and look to make another minor league start at an affiliate as soon as Tuesday.”
Musgrove has not had a fully healthy season since 2022, as he fell short of 100 innings pitched in 2023 and 2024. Despite his lingering health issues, Musgrove has been effective when he has been on the mound as he has a 16-8 record and a 3.47 ERA since 2023. With the Padres currently holding the final Wild Card berth in the National League, getting back the former All-Star could prove pivotal for their postseason push. San Diego currently has a one game lead over the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks.
Joe Musgrove’s Recovery
Regarding his recovery process and back issue after his latest rehab start, Musgrove said, “I came out of it a little more sore than normal, nothing drastic, but picked up a little back injury, like a tweak in the gym that put me out for like a day or two. Just having trouble rotating, but that’s all cleared up. I feel like I’m back to normal, so hopefully bullpen (Saturday) and then look at the schedule and our next rehab start.”
Meanwhile, Padres manager Craig Stammen said, “His main number one thing is getting back to being who we know Joe Musgrove is. And then we’ll decide when he pitches after that. … We want him to have that success, to be that guy he wants to be and not a lesser version of himself. We have the ability with the new pitching additions at the trade deadline to get him to where we need him to be — one of those guys we can count on.”
Stammen and Musgrove were teammates on the Padres during the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
San Diego Padres Announce Joe Musgrove News During Twins Series