According to the New York Post’s Mike Puma, the veteran infielder will remain with Triple-A Syracuse as he continues working his way back from injuries that have limited him throughout his first season with the Mets. The decision comes even after Polanco successfully returned to game action during his rehab assignment.

While his recovery appears to be moving in the right direction physically, the Mets are taking a cautious approach as they evaluate both his health and readiness at the plate before activating him, even as Bo Bichette answered to criticism from doubters continues to circulate as one of the week’s notable storylines around the league.

Carlos Mendoza emphasized the importance of being fully ready

Earlier this week, manager Carlos Mendoza acknowledged that Polanco’s return would depend on more than just medical clearance. “We got to talk to the player, how he’s feeling, and all that. And he’s got to get cleared from the medical staff as well,” Mendoza said. “It could be in play that he’s active on Friday. But again, if he needs more at-bats, and it’s not so much like how he’s feeling physically, I think there’s a combination of a lot of things there.”

Polanco has struggled offensively during his brief stay in Syracuse, going hitless with one walk in two Triple-A games. Prior to that, he appeared in three games for Double-A Binghamton, where he collected two hits, including a home run.

Injuries have complicated Polanco’s first season with Mets

Polanco’s debut season in Queens has been disrupted by multiple health issues. He spent time dealing with Achilles bursitis before being sidelined in April with a right wrist contusion.

The wrist injury is reportedly no longer a concern, but the Achilles issue remains something he will likely need to manage throughout the season. As a result, the Mets expect him to spend most of his time as a designated hitter when he eventually returns, while remaining available to play first base when needed.

For now, the Mets will continue their road trip without him as they open a key series against the Padres. The club will return home next week for a matchup against the Cardinals, which could provide another potential target date for Polanco’s return if his rehab continues to progress.

Even with the Phillies footing the bill for his substantial contract, Castellanos failed to produce at the plate for San Diego. His prolonged slump turned a low-risk gamble into an unexpected, abrupt end to his tenure that caught many around the league by surprise.

The root of the issue lies in a complete breakdown at the plate. Castellanos wasn’t drawing walks, his strikeouts were piling up at an alarming rate (34 Ks), and he was completely unplayable against left-handed pitching, the exact split he was primarily brought in to neutralize. Combined with below-average defense in the outfield, a sub-.200 batting average made him entirely expendable.

Following the opening series against his former club in Philadelphia, Castellanos had opened up about his departure from the Phillies. At the time, he also offered high praise for manager Don Mattingly’s ability to guide a surging Padres team well above the .500 mark.

Stats to forget for Castellanos in San Diego

It wasn’t just a failure to drive rallies; his baseline traditional metrics cratered. The statistical collapse became impossible to justify, even with the Padres catching a financial break while Philadelphia swallowed the luxury-tax hit on his salary.

Castellanos leaves San Diego with a dismal .191/.222/.339 slash line, scraping together a mere .560 OPS. With just four home runs and 20 RBIs across 122 plate appearances, his production fell catastrophically short of what the Padres anticipated for the first half of the campaign.

The end of an era for Castellanos?

It is a sharp fall from grace for the former All-Star. Following highly publicized friction with former Phillies manager Rob Thomson, the veteran outfielder appeared plagued by mental fatigue at the plate, a psychological hurdle that clearly manifested in his regressing metrics.

With the Padres officially pivoting to youth by calling up 25-year-old Samad Taylor from Triple-A El Paso, Castellanos’ future remains up in the air. Once he inevitably clears waivers due to his contract structure, the veteran will look to catch on with a new franchise ahead of the trade deadline to prove he still has something left in the tank.

“We’re a big momentum-based team, and playing against the Padres for as long as I have, that’s part of the DNA here,” Buehler said, according to CBS 8 San Diego,while discussing the club’s recent stretch. “We catch momentum, have a good road trip, and hopefully do the same thing to them at their place.”

The Padres entered the week viewed as one of the biggest threats to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West standings, but the recent losing streak dropped them to third place in the division. Offensive inconsistency has continued to be a major issue throughout the season, especially during the sweep against Philadelphia.

Padres offense continues to search for consistency

Despite remaining competitive in the standings, San Diego’s offense has struggled to produce consistently. The Padres currently rank in the bottom half of MLB in both runs scored and slugging percentage, making it difficult for the team to capitalize on strong pitching performances.

Manager Craig Stammen recently defended hitting coach Steven Sousa Jr. while taking responsibility for the offensive issues himself. San Diego has struggled to sustain rallies during the recent skid, and several key hitters have yet to find prolonged rhythm at the plate.

Petco Park homestand could shift momentum for Padres

The Padres now head into an important homestand at Petco Park hoping to regain confidence before the division race begins to tighten further. Buehler’s comments reflected the belief inside the clubhouse that momentum still plays a major role in how the team performs over long stretches of the season.

With stars like Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado leading the lineup, San Diego still possesses enough talent to rebound quickly. However, the offense will need to improve if the Padres want to keep pace with the Dodgers and remain firmly in the playoff picture.

“In my opinion, it has nothing to do with him,” Stammen said about hitting coach Steven Sousa Jr., according to Marty Caswell of Foul Territory. “This is the Padres hitting. This is the Padres organization. How we go about taking at-bats, it’s on all of us, and more specifically on me.”

San Diego’s offensive numbers have fallen near the bottom of Major League Baseball despite the team holding a 31-24 record entering the weekend. The Padres currently rank tied for 25th in runs scored, 29th in slugging percentage, and sit last in MLB in both batting average and on-base percentage.

For San Diego, the one bit of relief comes off the field, as the club recently received a positive Joe Musgrove injury update, offering hope that pitching stability could help ease the pressure on a struggling lineup.

Padres offense continues difficult stretch

The Padres’ lineup has struggled to generate consistent production throughout the past week. Over their last six games, San Diego has scored only 14 total runs while posting a .190 team batting average and a .278 on-base percentage.

Much of the limited offensive production has come from Manny Machado, who has recorded two home runs and five RBIs during the stretch despite batting just .100. Meanwhile, Fernando Tatis Jr. has continued reaching base at a high rate, hitting .450 with a .560 on-base percentage over the last week, but the overall run production around him has remained limited.

The lack of offensive consistency has placed additional pressure on the Padres’ pitching staff as the team attempts to stay within striking distance of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West standings.

Padres look to rebound against Nationals

Despite the recent struggles, San Diego remains only 4.5 games behind Los Angeles in the division race and still has time to turn things around offensively before the summer stretch intensifies.

The Padres will have an opportunity to reset this weekend when they open a three-game series against the Washington Nationals, a team currently ranked 25th in Major League Baseball in team ERA.

For Stammen, however, the focus remains on improving the team’s overall approach at the plate rather than pointing blame elsewhere as the Padres attempt to snap out of their offensive slump.

Now, as he prepares to face his former club, Castellanos offered a telling perspective on the Phillies’ new-look dugout. “My thought was ‘right man, right spot,’” Castellanos told NBC Sports Philadelphia regarding the hiring of Don Mattingly. “The fact that a father is able to work underneath his son is a beautiful thing. I think that baseball is a personal, family, authentic game.”

Castellanos’ pointed remarks serve as a tacit confirmation that his deteriorating relationship with Thomson paved his exit from Philadelphia. The friction reportedly began to boil over late last season, right as the Phillies were gearing up for a deep postseason run.

While losing a high-profile bat is never ideal, the Phillies’ outfield depth has filled the void beautifully, with offseason acquisition Adolis Garcia stepping up in Castellanos’ absence. Still, there is plenty of baseball left to be played, and a retooling Philadelphia squad is currently treading water with a mediocre 27-27 record.

Castellanos’ thoughts on Thomson’s lack of communication

Reflecting on his departure, Castellanos opened up to reporters on Monday, indicating that a fundamental breakdown in communication between player and manager was at the root of the split.

“I think you can fill in the blanks on that,” Castellanos said when pressed to compare the clear expectations laid out by San Diego’s front office with the communication issues he endured during his final stretch in Philadelphia.

Castellanos’ stats with the Padres

While the Phillies scratch and claw to climb back above .500, the Padres are integrating a motivated piece into their clubhouse. Though his role has shifted to a part-time capacity, San Diego remains confident that giving the veteran a fresh canvas will validate their decision to take a flyer on him this season.

Let’s review Castellanos’ stats so far:

• At Bats (AB): 109
• Batting Average (AVG): .183
• On-Base Percentage (OBP): .217
• Slugging Percentage (SLG): .339
• On-Base Plus Slugging (OPS): .556
• Hits (H): 20
• Home Runs (HR): 4
• Runs Batted In (RBI): 19
• Runs Scored (R): 9
• Stolen Bases (SB): 1
• Wins Above Replacement (WAR): -0.9

According to MLB.com, Musgrove is moving closer to the next stage of his recovery process. “(Musgrove) was hopeful for an early-season return but experienced a setback after making one start in Spring Training. Could be nearing the start of a throwing progression,” the report stated.

Musgrove has been out since undergoing Tommy John surgery after suffering a torn UCL, an injury that developed following elbow discomfort during the 2024 Wild Card round.

Before the setback, he had been a key member of San Diego’s rotation after signing a five-year, $100 million extension with the club, at a time when Padres manager Craig Stammen recently confirmed Lucas Giolito’s debut.

Musgrove’s recovery moves forward cautiously

The latest development suggests Musgrove is nearing the beginning of a structured throwing program, a key milestone in his long rehabilitation. The Padres are expected to proceed carefully, given both the severity of the injury and his previous setback during the early stages of his return.

Padres rotation still adapting without Musgrove

The Padres are 2.5 games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who lead the NL West with a 34-20 record. Despite Musgrove’s absence, San Diego has opened the 2026 season in strong form, sitting near the top of the division standings, though sustaining that success will depend heavily on pitching depth and overall health as the year progresses.

If Musgrove continues progressing without setbacks, he could eventually rejoin the rotation later in the season, providing a potential late-year boost for a team aiming to challenge the Dodgers in the NL West.

According to 97.3 The Fan’s Sammy Levitt, Stammen announced that Giolito is scheduled to take the mound in Seattle, ending weeks of anticipation surrounding the pitcher’s first appearance since signing with San Diego. The decision gives the Padres another experienced arm as they continue navigating a competitive National League playoff race.

Giolito joined the Padres on a one-year major league deal on April 22, and his arrival comes at an important point in the season with San Diego holding a 26-18 record entering the series against Seattle.

Giolito gets fresh opportunity with Padres rotation

Giolito enters his Padres debut looking to reestablish himself as a reliable presence on the mound after injuries and inconsistency impacted portions of his recent seasons.

Despite those challenges, the former All-Star still possesses swing-and-miss stuff when healthy and effective command of the strike zone. San Diego hopes his addition can provide stability and depth to a rotation expected to play a major role in the club’s postseason aspirations.

The Padres have remained firmly in the NL playoff picture, and adding another proven starter could become increasingly important as the season progresses deeper into the summer months.

Padres face challenging road test against Mariners

Sunday’s matchup also presents a difficult assignment for Giolito in his first outing with the organization, as Seattle continues to be one of the stronger home teams in the American League.

San Diego clearly believes the veteran can become more than short-term rotation depth. If Giolito performs well in his debut, the Padres could gain another valuable piece for a team with postseason expectations in a tightly contested division race.

In a recent interview with Annie Heilbrunn, Castellanos pushed back on the narrative surrounding his exit. “The media might have made it seem like it was some big deal and I was like some huge villain, but honestly it never felt like that throughout my communication with the other players,” he said.

He also added, “I definitely would consider those guys in my clubhouse, my old clubhouse, my friends. Sure, if some people over there ever had issues with me and the way I went about things, they definitely never told me.”

Castellanos, who played in Philadelphia from 2022 to 2025, was released during the offseason before signing with San Diego. While the Padres have started strong and sit near the top of the NL West standings, the Phillies have endured a difficult stretch, entering play with an 8-18 record and a lengthy losing streak, a contrast that reinforces how the Padres represent the first hurdle for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Castellanos addresses perception of his Phillies tenure

The 34-year-old outfielder made it clear that, from his perspective, there was no internal conflict during his time in Philadelphia. His comments suggest a disconnect between public narratives and his personal experience within the clubhouse.

Despite the circumstances of his departure, Castellanos emphasized that relationships with former teammates remained intact, reinforcing his view that the situation was less contentious than it appeared externally.

Padres hope for turnaround amid early struggles at the plate

While San Diego has performed well as a team, Castellanos has yet to find his rhythm offensively in 2026. He entered his next game with a .146/.196/.208 slash line through 16 appearances, a slow start by his standards.

Still, his track record as a productive hitter offers reason for optimism. Whether as a regular contributor or in a complementary role, Castellanos remains a veteran presence the Padres could rely on as the season progresses.

Boasting a nearly identical record and winners of 11 of their last 12 games, the Padres are sending a clear message that the NL West crown won’t be handed over easily. But what exactly is fueling this early-season arms race between the two rivals?

Key highlights for the Padres:

• Mason Miller’s dominance: A sparkling 0.00 ERA and a 0.35 WHIP through 11.1 innings have turned Miller into one of the most feared late-inning weapons the Padres have developed this spring.
• A sturdy rotation: Beyond Miller, the starting staff has been a pillar of consistency. Randy Vasquez, Walker Buehler, and Michael King have each stabilized the rotation, providing the Padres with much-needed depth.
• Offensive firepower: Fernando Tatis Jr. has carried over his blistering form from the World Baseball Classic. Paired with a red-hot Ramon Laureano—who has already tallied four home runs and 15 RBIs—the Padres have become a nightmare for opposing pitchers.

Injury bug bites Dodgers’ depth

Despite their winning record, the Dodgers haven’t escaped unscathed. The loss of Edwin Diaz to what could be a season-ending injury was a massive blow, but he isn’t the only concern for Dave Roberts’ staff.

With high-leverage arms like Evan Phillips and Brusdar Graterol still working their way back from surgery, the bullpen has looked vulnerable at times. The rotation is also feeling the pinch with Blake Snell currently on the 15-day IL, forcing the Dodgers to rely on their organizational depth earlier than expected.

The defensive vacuum is also notable. With Mookie Betts, Tommy Edman, and Kike Hernandez currently on rehab assignments, the Dodgers’ glovework has regressed. This defensive inconsistency was a factor in their recent skid, dropping three of four to the Rockies and a frustrating series opener against the Giants.

The Ohtani factor and a rising star

While injuries are a concern, any team headlined by Shohei Ohtani remains a perennial threat. Ohtani’s two-way brilliance continues to anchor the club, but a new face has emerged as a legitimate offensive catalyst.

Dalton Rushing has been the revelation of the early season. Despite rumors swirling about his name in trade talks between these very two clubs, Rushing has remained focused on the diamond, putting up eye-popping numbers in limited action.

With seven home runs and 13 RBIs in just 29 at-bats, Rushing has surpassed all expectations. If he continues to provide this level of protection for Ohtani in the lineup, the Dodgers have more than enough firepower to counter the Padres’ hot start and maintain their grip on the division.

After Stammen defined winning mindset, he expressed confidence that things would turn around at Petco Park. “We’re going to play better here at Petco… This was probably an outlier,” he said, according to MLB.com at the time, a statement that now looks accurate following a perfect 7–0 homestand.

The turnaround has been fueled by a consistent approach, with the Padres now winning 12 of their last 14 games. Pitching, timely hitting, and execution have all played key roles in the team’s rapid rise.

Stammen outlines clear formula behind Padres’ success

Stammen made it clear that the team’s identity starts with getting a lead and trusting the bullpen to finish the job. “That’s our recipe for winning,” he said. “We’ve got a great bullpen, and we’ve just got to get the ball to them somehow… I feel good with us closing it out.”

He compared the strategy to a football team controlling the game late. “Score early, get ahead and then hand the ball off to all the guys who throw 100 mph,” Stammen added. That approach has worked consistently during the streak, with relievers locking down games once the Padres gain control.

Tatis and Buehler lead balanced team effort

Fernando Tatis Jr. continues to contribute in multiple ways, even without home run power early in the season. He reached base three times in the latest win and delivered a key two-run single, while also making an impact defensively. “He’s just a great baseball player,” Stammen said. “When we’re going good, he’s impacting the game quite often.”

Meanwhile, Walker Buehler has stepped up in a rotation dealing with injuries, delivering back-to-back solid outings and providing much-needed stability. With strong contributions across the roster and a defined winning formula, the Padres have quickly turned their season around — and show no signs of slowing down.

It was OptaStats that detailed the full scope of Miller’s record-setting numbers on X. The depth of this statistical anomaly becomes even more staggering as the sample size grows. Miller has struck out 50 of his last 70 opponents and an incredible 80 of his last 135.

To put it in perspective, no other MLB pitcher in the last 50 years, including legendary power arms and Hall of Fame closers, has matched any of these stretches at any point in their careers.

Miller giving the Padres exactly what they need

Miller has been dominant to open the 2026 season, posting a 0.00 ERA across nine appearances for San Diego, a massive boost for the club. In 9.1 innings, he has allowed just one hit and one walk, with opponents unable to capitalize.

“Including playoffs, Mason Miller has struck out: 20 of his last 23 batters, 30 of last 38, 40 of last 55, 50 of last 70, 60 of last 89, 70 of last 109, 80 of last 135. No other MLB pitcher in the last 50 years has matched any of those stretches at any point in his career (reg & post),” OptaStats posted on X.

The Padres’ pitching staff has been sharp overall, with a 3.97 ERA among starters, led by Randy Vasquez at 2.49. While some relievers have had their struggles, Miller has anchored the bullpen as a lockdown closer, helping the team to a strong 13-6 record.