MACHADO RETURNS TO LINEUP AT DH

Manny Machado was not on the Padres’ charter flights this trip.

Instead, he was driven to Phoenix from San Diego and, after the Padres’ two games against the Diamondbacks, got in a car and made the six-hour trip to Los Angeles.

Flights cause swelling in joints. And abating the swelling in Machado’s ankle has been the recurring challenge as he has worked to get ready for what happened Thursday.

The Padres’ best player was back in the starting lineup for the opener of a four-game series against the Dodgers and doubled in the first inning.

“I don’t see him playing all four games this series,” manager Bob Melvin said. “But getting him in the first one and waiting to this point to get him in there, I think the timing has been pretty good. You never really know until (the game). You can simulate all you want hitting in the cage, running bases, doing angles. But it’s hitting that first ball and having to get down the line. The swings are a little bit different in the game, certainly defensively, and so forth. So it’s tough to simulate how you’re going to actually respond during the game. But the training staff and he feel good about at least starting out (as) DH today.

“There was debate whether or not to play him at third today. But I think first day in, probably prudent thing to do is let him DH and go from there. How many games he plays in the series, I’m not sure yet. But certainly, having his name in the lineup is pretty impactful.”

The Padres went 5-3 in their eight games without Machado, not including the loss on June 19 against the

Rockies when Machado sprained his left ankle after crossing the bag on a groundout.

Machado, who ranks third in the National League with a .945 OPS and second with a .328 batting average, is the Padres’ only player with more than 73 plate appearances to have an OPS above .799 or a batting average above .283.

Machado’s initially injury appeared worse than it ended up being, and the Padres braced themselves for potentially having to play without him for as much as a month. The question, it seemed, was whether he would return before Fernando Tatis Jr., who is expected back perhaps as soon the final week of July following his recovery from March wrist surgery.

“Originally, this looked like it could be three weeks or a month,” Melvin said. “So we’re fortunate to have a guy like that who heals quickly.”

Machado, who has not been on the injured list since the end of the 2014 season, missed 10 days but did not go on the IL.

Batten around

Matthew Batten arrived at Dodger Stadium on Thursday and went to Melvin’s office.

When he was removed from a game with Triple-A El Paso on Wednesday, he was told he would be joining the Padres as part of their taxi squad. He figured he would introduce himself to the manager and then get out of the way. That’s when Melvin told him he was actually going to be activated. The 27year-old utility player would be a major leaguer for the first time.

“I’m on cloud nine right now,” Batten said. “This is awesome.”

Batten replaces infielder Sergio Alcantara, who was designated for assignment.

Alcantara mostly served as a defensive replacement everywhere in the infield except first base and batted .114 in 22 games for the Padres. Batten is a true utility man, having played everywhere except right field and catcher this season.

Batten batted .299 with a .904 OPS in Triple-A. His splits with El Paso were fairly even, but Melvin identified him as more likely to hit against left-handed pitchers.

“He was having a good year offensively, had some homers, too, can steal a base,” Melvin said. “Alcantara was a little more defensive minded. Maybe a little bit more offense (with Batten). Always trying to get incrementally better over the course of the season. He’s done enough to deserve this first time in the big leagues.”

Campusano, in case

Luis Campusano, the organization’s third-ranked prospect, joined the team in L.A as a member of the taxi squad. Catcher Jorge Alfaro has been playing for more than a week through a balky right knee.

“I feel like we’re in pretty good position with him,” Melvin said of Alfaro. “But with El Paso not being a bus ride away, you have to potentially have (somebody available) if something happens.”