Padres get key injury updates on Jackson Merrill, Yu Darvish, others

The San Diego Padres are off to one of their best starts in franchise history despite injuries to Jackson Merrill and others. Before Friday’s game against the Houston Astros, manager Mike Shildt gave updates on players sitting on the IL, including Merrill, Yu Darvish, and Jake Cronenworth.

San Diego is still a few weeks away from welcoming back its injured players, according to San Diego Union-Tribune writer Kevin Acee.

Despite being without key pieces throughout the roster, the Padres are favored in their game on Friday against the Houston Astros. San Diego is dominating the early part of the MLB’s regular season, holding a lead in the NL West over the uber-talented Los Angeles Dodgers.

One of the good things about dealing with so many injuries? The Padres have uncovered gems that have replaced Merrill and Cronenworth in the field. They need Darvish back, though, to piece together one of the best pitching trios in the league with Dylan Cease and Michael King.

The back of San Diego’s rotation is one of the few weak spots on the team, but it’s more concerned with getting Darvish back before they address the pitchers behind him. The Dodgers could be shopping one of their starters, but an in-division trade is unlikely.

The season is going as well as it possibly could for the Padres. After losing to the eventual champion Dodgers in the NLDS, San Diego entered the 2025 season with a chip on its shoulder. A win over the Astros on Friday gives the Padres 16 wins in their first 20 games after tying a franchise-best start to a season.

With the team playing so well, Shildt has the freedom to wait for his players to return at 100% from the IL. If the team was struggling, he might have decided to rush his players back, risking more severe injuries later. For now, though, the Padres are doing just fine.

Padres tie franchise record that will have fans dreaming of a World Series

The San Diego Padres’ 2025 campaign is off to a historic start — one that has fans daring to dream big. With Wednesday’s 4-2 win over the Cubs at Petco Park, the Padres improved to 15-4, matching the best 19-game start in franchise history — a mark last set in 1998, the year San Diego reached its most recent World Series. The victory also launched a new home win streak after their franchise-record 11-game run at Petco was snapped Tuesday night.

What’s more impressive? They’ve done it while battling a string of injuries to key players like Jackson Merrill, Jake Cronenworth, and Brandon Lockridge. The so-called next-man-up mentality has turned into a defining identity for the team.

“It’s just the whole group approach,” said Fernando Tatís Jr. “Everybody feeds off each other.”

That mentality was on full display in the series finale, as Tyler Wade — a recent call-up and unexpected starter — reached base four times with two hits and two walks. Batting ninth, Wade ignited both late scoring rallies with timely at-bats and played strong defense, showcasing the depth that manager Mike Shildt continues to rely on.

The Padres continue to dominate in 2025

“Guys like Wadey, who was a big part of our club last year, helped us win games,” Shildt said. “We know what we’re getting. Four outstanding at-bats, two runs scored. He’s a great energy guy.”