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Inside The Padres

Padres Notes: Jake Cronenworth Update, Walker Buehler is Back, Orioles Slugger to SD?

Catch up on all the latest Padres news and notes.
Gabe Smallson|
Jun 20, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Walker Buehler (10) throws to the plate against the Texas Rangers during the second inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
Jun 20, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Walker Buehler (10) throws to the plate against the Texas Rangers during the second inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

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San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-2, on Sunday afternoon and fell to 43-39 on the year.

Right-handed pitcher Michael King went 4.1 innings, striking out five while allowing four earned runs and four walks. His ERA rose to 3.55 as he was handed his seventh loss of the season.

On the offensive side of things, superstar third baseman Manny Machado got the Friars on the board with a towering solo home run in the bottom of the fourth. After a three-run fifth inning by the Dodgers, Xander Bogaerts brought Jackson Merrill home in the sixth inning, but that would be the extent of the Padres offense on Sunday.

In other news, Padres manager Craig Stammen spoke on what infielder Jake Cronenworth's return timeline is like as he continues to recover from a concussion.

“I think he’s gonna give us a little bit of indication of, ‘Yeah, I feel ready, my timing is back,’” Stammen said. “It’s a little bit almost like spring training, where we’ve got to just more so — not like health-wise but just like baseball-wise — am I ready to play baseball? Am I ready to play every day when I get back?”

Additionally, right-hander Walker Buehler appears to be back to his All-Star and World Series-clinching self with a 1.71 ERA over his last five starts.

After a convincing performance on Friday where Buehler allowed just one run and struck out five across 5.1 innings, Dodgers third baseman and former teammate Max Muncy best encapsulated what Buehler's return to familiar form has been like.

“His command was really good tonight," Muncy said. “He was mixing his pitches — but he’s always done that. Just the way it looks, he’s a couple years removed from losing his velocity. That happens when you have injuries. I just think he’s learned how to navigate that.

“He’s a very smart pitcher. He always has been. I think it’s just took time for him to learn what his arsenal was and go from there.”

Finally, the Padres have been linked to a Baltimore Orioles slugger as trade deadline rumors intensify. With the offense ranking last in MLB in batting average and OPS, bringing in a power bat (or two) before Aug. 3 can prove to be season-altering for the Friars.

Here’s all the latest Padres news and stories (click the headline for the full article):

Padres Manager Discusses Jake Cronenworth's Return Timeline From Concussion

Dodgers Say Walker Buehler Looks Like New Pitcher Amid Resurgence With Padres

Padres Connected to 36-Homer Slugger Expected to Be Traded Ahead of Deadline

Padres Have Little-Known Prospect Suddenly Putting Himself on the Map

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Gabe Smallson
GABE SMALLSON

Gabe Smallson is a sportswriter based in Los Angeles with a focus in sports and entertainment content. Gabe has previously worked at Newsweek and Dodgers Nation. He graduated from San Francisco State University in 2020 and received his Masters of Science at the University of Southern California in 2025.

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