SAN DIEGO -- Backup catcher Elias Díaz exited the Padres’ 5-1 victory over the Diamondbacks on Saturday night at Petco Park. He has soreness in his left oblique, manager Mike Shildt said.
Shildt added that the Padres are optimistic Díaz has avoided significant injury, calling his status day to day, with the playoffs set to begin on Tuesday.
After fouling off a pitch in the bottom of the fourth inning, Díaz grimaced and appeared to favor his left side. After an evaluation from a team trainer, he was removed from the game in favor of starter Freddy Fermin.
“Day to day, and I applaud him for self-regulating and feeling it and making the decision to get out of there,” Shildt said. “But it’s sore, clearly. It looks like it’s mild. Who knows with these things, especially in that area, but the medical team is optimistic.”
Díaz, who hit his ninth home run of the year in the second inning, is batting .204 with a .607 OPS this season. If he were to miss any time, his absence might be most acutely felt with Padres starter Nick Pivetta almost certainly lined up to start Game 1 of the Wild Card Series on Tuesday night against the Cubs. Díaz has served as Pivetta’s personal catcher this season.
Presumably, Fermin would slot into the starting catcher role for the entirety of the postseason. The only other catcher on the Padres’ 40-man roster is Luis Campusano, who could serve as Fermin’s backup if Díaz misses time.
It’s also possible the Padres would opt to carry three catchers on their postseason roster, keeping Campusano just in case the injury flares up again for Díaz. One spot on the playoff roster is up for grabs, following an injury earlier this week to outfielder Ramón Laureano (fractured right index finger). Will Wagner and Mason McCoy are also vying for that final bench place.