San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
MACHADO, GRISHAM GET SOME REST
The Padres entered Saturday’s game against the Seattle Mariners tied for first place, the latest in a season they have been atop the National League West since 2010.
Even playing without multiple core players, they have won seven straight games and 10 of 11 to move from 2½ games behind the San Francisco Giants on May 8 to tied with them.
So now is the time. And moreover, according to Jayce Tingler, this is the team that can afford to hold out third baseman Manny Machado and center fielder Trent Grisham to make sure they’re healthy and in a good spot for later in the season.
“If we are who we say we are, we have to back that up,” the Padres manager said. “We’ve talked about using our depth, getting guys off their feet, next man up. I don’t want to say the circumstances because of a couple of games. I think if we are who we say we are our actions are going to speak louder than what we’re talking about. So I do believe this is what we would do no matter what the last couple weeks’ outcomes are. We’re still going to show up, still going to show up, work, prepare. The first pitch is going to happen and we’re going to have an absolutele blast playing with energy and pulling for one another. That’s the consistent thing of who we are.”
Machado did not start for a second straight game with shoulder “tightness.” Grisham has a bruised heel.
“I think if we were at different parts of the season, they would be going,” Tingler said. “But understanding that we’re using our depth, our guys are playing well right now, just at the point in the season with 33 games in 34 days and if we have an opportunity to not have to push through some things right now, that’s where we are. I think the great news is both guys are feeling better than they were (Friday), which is very encouraging. If we can continue to take a step like this (today) and the next day, I think we’re going to be in a really good spot. We’re just going day to day with those guys. I left them out of the lineup (Saturday). Just thought it would be another day to get them off right now and see where we are at the end of the day and certainly for (Sunday).”
Tingler did not rule out the possibility either player could come off the bench Saturday, though it seemed unlikely.
Ha-seong Kim started at third base for a second straight day. Jorge Mateo, who replaced Grisham on Friday, started in center field.
While Tingler said he couldn’t specify how long Machado has been dealing with a shoulder ailment, there was talk of his hurting it in mid-april. Tingler and other players have made multiple passing references to Machado playing through maladies.
“What I can tell you is Manny is an incredibly tough dude,” Tingler said. “You never hear him complain. … He just doesn’t complain. He just puts his head down and goes to work.”
Grisham was removed in the fifth inning of Friday’s 16-1 victory over the Mariners. Tingler said Saturday that Grisham has been having an issue with his foot about a week but had said he was fine.
“He did a good job of managing it,” Tingler said. “The situation that we don’t want to happen is if he’s favoring anything with his lower half and the hamstrings and the groins, the quads, everything going on down there, we don’t want anything on the kinetic chain where he’s favoring something and powering through and maybe running or walking a little bit different. If we’ve got an opportunity to get some of that bruising down a little bit over the next couple days, I think that’s the right thing to do for him going forward instead of him toughing it out and going through it.”
Pomeranz progress
Left-handed reliever Drew Pomeranz, who has not pitched since May 9 due to a shoulder impingement, is scheduled to throw a live batting practice today.
“Hopefully, that goes well and (Pomeranz) comes out feeling well, arm feeling fresh, pain free,” Tingler said. “If that goes well, that probably lines us up for sometimes next week to be able to go, but we still have to cross that one (today).”
Injury updates
Reliever Taylor Williams underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and is playing catch but has not begun throwing off a mound.
Tingler said reliever Dan Altavilla has “soreness around the forearm, around the elbow” and is “getting closer” to playing catch.
Neither of the righthanders’ return is imminent. Once they have completed a rehab assignment, the Padres will have to promote them or subject them to waivers, as both are out of minor league options.
kevin.acee@sduniontribune.com