Padres Scratch All-Star Outfielder From Lineup in Concerning Development

The San Diego Padres are faced with new concerns as they push to unseat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.

All-Star outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. was scratched from Monday’s lineup with what the team is calling “lower half tightness.”

It was a concerning development for Tatis, who was seen grabbing his right hamstring a day prior in a 7-2 loss to the Minnesota Twins.

Tatis has been one of the most productive players at the plate and in the field for San Diego, slashing .264/.370/.430 with 18 home runs, 57 RBI and 27 stolen bases while delivering Gold Glove-caliber defense.

What is Fernando Tatis Jr.’s Injury?

Tatis appeared to tweak his right hamstring on defense in the seventh inning of Sunday’s game against Minnesota. He brushed off concerns afterward, telling reporters that he planned to play the next day.

“A little tightness, nothing crazy,” Tatis said, via Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune.

After being in the initial lineup, Tatis was scratched approximately 30 minutes before first pitch Monday. Ramon Laureano replaced Tatis in right field, and Bryce Johnson was inserted into the lineup in center.

Tatis has dealt with hamstring issues before, as he missed more than a month in 2019 because of a left hamstring strain. He overcame that to win NL Rookie of the Year after posting a .969 OPS in 84 games.

Is Fernando Tatis Jr.’s Injury a Concern?

While the 26-year-old Tatis has yet to recapture his form prior to being suspended for PEDs in 2022, he remains an essential part of the Padres’ lineup. His 5.4 WAR (wins above replacement) is tied with Dodgers designated hitter/pitcher Shohei Ohtani and Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo for second in the NL and ranks sixth in all of baseball.

In addition to sporting an .800 OPS at the plate, Tatis leads all right fielders with 10 outs above average. Tatis won the Platinum Gold Glove in right after transitioning from shortstop in 2023, and he’s a strong candidate to take home another Gold Glove this season.

The Padres, who have lost six of their last eight games to fall to 76-62, can ill afford to lose Tatis for an extended stretch as they try to keep pace with the Dodgers. The Padres entered Tuesday clinging to the second NL wild card spot, 2.5 games behind Los Angeles in the NL West.

Who is Injured on the Padres?

As the Padres hit the homestretch of the regular season, injuries have begun to pile up. Relief pitcher Jason Adam will likely miss the rest of the season after rupturing a tendon in his left quad Sunday.

Adam crumpled to the mound after reacting to a hit up the middle by Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson and was later carted off the field.

The 34-year-old right-hander made his first All-Star team earlier this season and had an outstanding 1.93 ERA in 65 appearances.

“I felt the pop right away, felt it kind, felt like a quad kind of rolled up, so I kinda knew it wasn’t good,” Adam said following the 4-3 loss. “It was pain at first, and then you can kind of come to like, ‘Hey, did we get the out?’ Then, it’s just waiting to hear how long.”

The Padres also recently lost shortstop Xander Bogaerts for the season to a foot fracture.

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