Machado out of lineup day after early exit; Cronenworth gets first career start at 3B

SAN DIEGO -- Padres third baseman Manny Machado was out of the lineup on Tuesday for the team’s game against the Cubs at Petco Park -- a day after he dealt with a left calf cramp, which forced his early exit on Monday.

Manager Craig Stammen noted that Machado is day to day and would be available off the bench in a pinch. With Machado out, Jake Cronenworth was called upon to make his first career start at third base.

“Manny’s doing pretty good today,” Stammen said. “[He’s] day to day with it. We feel good about where he’s at. He’s not worried about it at all. I don’t think we’re worried about it either.”

Machado’s status
After a slow start to the season, Machado appeared to be hitting his stride at the plate over the past few games. He homered twice in the Mexico City Series finale on Sunday before going 3-for-4 on Monday with a pair of doubles.

Given Stammen’s comments, an IL stint seems unlikely. Especially so, given that Machado has in the past expressed a strong preference for avoiding the IL.

Nonetheless, it’s possible Machado’s absence will linger beyond Tuesday. (Or at least his absence from the starting lineup, if he’s available off the bench.) The Padres have a day game Wednesday, then an off-day Thursday. So it stands to reason that, if they’re being cautious, Machado might not be back in the lineup until Friday at the earliest.

Stammen also noted: “There was a big possibility that Manny was going to get a day off before this homestand was over.”

Why Cronenworth?
Cronenworth has proven his value defensively at multiple positions -- second base, shortstop and first base. But he’s only spent one inning at third in his big league career, as a rookie in 2020.

“But I played right field pretty much in the shift,” he recalled.

Evidently, Stammen approached Cronenworth about the possibility last week -- completely unrelated to Machado’s injury. He merely wanted another third-base option in case of emergency. Stammen has been using his backup third basemen at DH -- and has been pinch-hitting for them somewhat regularly. So it made sense to have another option available.

The Padres’ primary backups at the position this season have been Miguel Andujar and Ty France. But San Diego is most comfortable with France at first base. With Cubs righty Edward Cabrera on the mound, Stammen wanted Cronenworth’s bat over Andujar’s. Simple as that.

Song an option?
The Padres, of course, have had to get creative in their infield this year. With Cronenworth at third base, Fernando Tatis Jr. -- a platinum glover in right field -- is starting at second for the fifth time this year.

If it was the Padres’ preference to avoid so much shuffling, they have an obvious solution. Sung-Mun Song was called up as the team’s 27th player for the Mexico City Series. He can play second, short and third.

But Song was sent back to Triple-A on Monday. Stammen and the Padres are clearly comfortable with their bench as is. That being said, if Machado were to miss extended time for any reason, Song would be the obvious candidate to replace him.