The San Diego Padres are off to one of the strongest starts in franchise history, even with key players like Jackson Merrill sidelined by injuries. Prior to Friday’s matchup against the Houston Astros, manager Mike Shildt shared injury updates on Merrill, Yu Darvish, and Jake Cronenworth.
According to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Padres are still a few weeks away from getting those players back.
Even with a depleted roster, San Diego enters Friday’s game as the favorite over Houston. They’ve been thriving early in the regular season, currently holding a lead in the NL West over a star-studded Dodgers team.
One silver lining of the injury situation is that the Padres have discovered some surprising contributors who’ve stepped up in place of Merrill and Cronenworth. However, getting Darvish back remains a priority, as he’s needed to complete a top-tier rotation alongside Dylan Cease and Michael King.
While the back end of the Padres’ rotation remains a concern, the team is focused on Darvish’s return before making any moves to bolster their pitching depth. Although the Dodgers might make one of their starters available, a trade within the division seems unlikely.
So far, the 2025 season has gone nearly perfectly for San Diego. Following last year’s NLDS loss to the eventual champion Dodgers, the Padres have come out with something to prove. A win on Friday would push their record to 16-4, matching the best 20-game start in team history.
With the team firing on all cylinders, Shildt can afford to wait until his injured stars are fully recovered. If the Padres were struggling, he might be tempted to bring them back early, risking further injury. But for now, there’s no need—the Padres are rolling.
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