July 7, 2024; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Joe Musgrove (44) watches during the ninth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park Contest. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports The San Diego Padres’ starting rotation will get a potentially key player on Monday night in Game 1 of a three-game series against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates.
Joe Musgrove (3-4, 5.66 ERA), who has been sidelined since May 26 with right elbow inflammation, is expected to take the mound. While he may be limited to 60 pitches after throwing 43 pitches for Lake Elsinore Single-A on Aug. 4 in Fresno, Musgrove, a right-hander, is optimistic , he’s ready to make an impact for San Diego down the stretch.
“A lot of offense, pretty much everything being directed, (speed) being in a really good position,” he said of the start of his rehab in the minors. “My body feels good.”
This is Musgrove’s second injury of the season, with both players dealing with the same issue. This time, he not only recovered slowly, but also received PRP injections in addition to cortisone injections. Musgrove said his elbow hasn’t bothered him since he started throwing again.
Musgrove’s elbow felt good enough for him to throw a 96 mph fastball in Fresno, the hardest pitch he’s thrown all year.
“Anytime you get Joe back it helps,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said. “It’s also good for you to have healthier arms this time of year.”
Musgrove was 1-2 with a 3.33 ERA in five career starts against Pittsburgh, which traded him to San Diego before the 2021 season. He hopes to equal that record for one of the hottest teams in the game.
Despite Sunday’s 7-6 loss to Miami, the Padres have won 16 of their past 19 games and are tied with Arizona for first place in the National League’s wild card, four games ahead of the Atlanta Braves. San Diego has won seven straight series since the All-Star break.
The Buccaneers, meanwhile, went in the opposite direction. They lost 6-5 in 10 innings to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday, their seventh straight loss — including last week’s series sweep at home in San Diego — that left them in the final game. Five games behind in the card game.
The latest loss was especially painful for Pittsburgh, which rallied from a 4-0 second-inning deficit behind two two-run homers by Andrew McCutchen. They took a 5-4 lead in the tenth inning on an RBI single by Bryan Reynolds.
But struggling closer David Bednar missed back-to-back save chances against San Diego on Wednesday and Thursday and was unable to maintain the lead. He gave up the game-tying RBI double to Enrique Hernandez and a single to Teosco Hernandez.
To make matters worse, Bednar has thrown a whopping 37 pitches and will likely not be able to play on Monday night, which could mean some uncomfortable choices for head coach Derek Shelton if the Buccaneers get the save.
“We know what’s at stake, we know what we need to do,” Pittsburgh pitcher Mitch Keller said. “it [stinks] Have a terrible time here.
Left-hander Marco Gonzalez (1-1, 4.54 ERA) will likely start for the Pirates on Monday. On Wednesday night in Pittsburgh against the Padres, he allowed eight hits and five runs in 4 2/3 innings as San Diego won 9-8 in 10 innings.
Gonzalez has started in three career games against San Diego and is 1-0 with a 5.52 ERA.
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