Manny

Machado

All three hits were singles and he didn’t drive in a run or score one himself, if you’re looking for something to complain about. Machado is hitting .333 with an .868 OPS over the first fie games of 2025.

The 32-year-old superstar was pulled from Saturday’s game after dealing with some cramping in his calf, but it appears to have been only a minor issue. He opened the scoring in Sunday’s game with an RBI double off of AJ Smith-Shawver in the first inning, giving the Padres a lead they would never relinquish. Machado is now off to a 3-for-13 (.231) start with three runs scored, two RBI and a pair of stolen bases.

“It was just a little cramping,” Machado said. “It’s not a big deal.” The 32-year-old exited early Saturday with what was described as tightness in his calf, but it sounds like he’s avoided serious injury. Assuming this is all it is, Machado should be back soon, but he may get Sunday off as a precaution.

Machado will undergo further testing to determine the severity of the injury. Jose Iglesias has replaced the All-Star at third base. This would be a significant blow for fantasy managers and the Padres if Machado were to miss significant time.

The Padres were 5-for-5 stealing bases off Drake Baldwin, with Fernando Tatis Jr. also swiping two bags. It’s just the seventh two-steal game of Machado’s career; the last was also against the Braves in Apr. 2022. Machado’s 11 steals last season made for his fourth-highest total ever. He stole a career-best 20 bases in 2015.

You don’t see many 1-0 games in the Cactus League, but we got a pitchers duel in Peoria on Saturday. Machado blasted the solo homer off Carson Spiers in the seventh inning. The 32-year-old missed time with a back injury this spring, but he’s now gone deep twice with a .433 slugging mark in Arizona.

Machado returned to San Diego’s lineup following a brief absence due to back tightness. There’s plenty of historical evidence suggesting that back issues shouldn’t be ignored, but it doesn’t seem like a serious concern at this juncture of spring training.

Acee notes that the third baseman is going through defensive drills Sunday. The Padres have split-squad games Tuesday, so Machado could play in either of those contests. The 32-year-old was scratched from Friday’s lineup with back tightness, but it appears his absence is just precautionary with three-plus weeks to go until the season begins.

The Padres are calling his removal precautionary, so it doesn’t sound like it’s anything too serious that should impact his availability for the start of the regular season. The 32-year-old superstar is 2-for-6 (.333) with a homer and two RBI thus far in Cactus League action.

The 32-year-old superstar wasted no time giving the Padres the lead in this one, jumping on a first-pitch changeup from Jhonathan Diaz and crushing it for a 428-foot (108.6 mph EV) two-run shot. He lined out to right field in his only other plate appearance on the day, finishing the afternoon 1-for-2. One of the most consistent year-over-year performers in fantasy baseball, there’s a reason that Machado is a consensus top five option at the third base position once again this season.