Joe Musgrove Goes 5 IP, 3 Ks in Rehab Start That Could Be His Last
Joe Musgrove logged 5 innings and struck out three in a rehab outing that could serve as his final tune-up before rejoining the Padres rotation.
Joe Musgrove turned in 5 innings and fanned three batters in what could be his final rehab start before returning to San Diego's rotation, per MLB.com's Shanthi Sepe-Chepuru.
The word "could" is doing real work there — nothing in the report constitutes a formal return announcement, and no activation date has been given. What the outing does suggest is that Musgrove is close enough that the Padres are at least entertaining the idea of not sending him back out on another minor-league assignment.
Why the timing matters
San Diego's pitching situation has been in flux. Yu Darvish is throwing bullpen sessions while recovering from right elbow surgery, though his return timeline remains uncertain. Jeremiah Estrada has landed on the 15-day IL with a right shoulder impingement — his third IL stint of the season — with no timetable offered and his availability for the rest of the year in question. Robert Suarez, meanwhile, is targeting bullpen sessions early next week as he works back from his own IL stint.
Against that backdrop, a healthy Musgrove rejoining the rotation would be a meaningful development for a club that has scored just 2 runs over a 21-inning stretch.
What remains unconfirmed
No return date has been announced. Whether the Padres bring Musgrove back for another rehab outing or slot him directly into the major-league rotation is still an open question.
More on the Padres wire.
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