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Padres Notes: Joe Musgrove Not Close, SD Pursuing Reliever in Trade, Yu Darvish Could Pitch in 2026

Catch up on all the latest Padres news and notes.
Gabe Smallson|
Oct 2, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish (11) throws during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs during game three of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
Oct 2, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish (11) throws during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs during game three of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

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San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres lost to the Chicago Cubs, 9-7, on Tuesday evening fell to 43-41 on the year.

JP Sears allowed seven runs (six earned) across 4.2 innings, and Ron Marinaccio allowed another two in relief.

Offensively, Fernando Tatis Jr. mashed a 425-foot long ball to start off the scoring in the first inning. Fellow superstar Manny Machado went yard in the third inning, this one a two-run shot.

A Gavin Sheets three-run home run in the eighth inning brought the Padres within three, and after a seven-pitch at-bat, Tatis hit his second long ball of the evening.

Unfortunately, the Padres were playing catch-up all day, and couldn't come all the way back.

In other news, right-hander Joe Musgrove still has a ways to go before returning to the mound as his injury saga trudges on. He offered some insight on why his return is taking as long as it has.

“If we were gonna bounce a ball, that bouncing of the elbow is where I get a lot of pain,” Musgrove said to the San Diego Union-Tribune. “And to be able to throw a ball with good intensity and be able to spin the ball and put the ball where I want location-wise, I need to be able to bounce the elbow and lock it out hard. That’s been the biggest struggle for me over the last couple months."

Additionally, the Padres have been linked to a top reliever ahead of the trade deadline in a potential move that would bolster the best bullpen in MLB. The left-handed hurler has a 2.19 ERA this season and a 97.5 mph fastball on average, and would strike even more fear into hitters playing San Diego's relief staff.

Finally, to round out the pitching news, right-hander Yu Darvish was presumably not pitching in 2026, but the Friars are leaving the door open for a potential postseason return. Manager Craig Stammen lit the rumor mill ablaze with his comments about Darvish's rehab.

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

Padres' Joe Musgrove Explains Why He's Still Not Close to Return

Padres Pursuing Top Reliever in Blockbuster Trade Ahead of Deadline: Report

Padres Leaving Door Open for Yu Darvish to Pitch This Season

Dodgers Change Shohei Ohtani’s Schedule, Announce He’ll Now Pitch Against Padres

Padres' Craig Stammen Throws Himself Under the Bus for Starting Pitcher's Struggles

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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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