SAN DIEGO — Wednesday at raucous Petco Park, the Padres were seemingly cruising toward a wild-card sweep of the Atlanta Braves when potential disaster struck.
With two outs in the top of the fourth and the Padres leading 5-1, veteran right-hander Joe Musgrove threw a 75.2 mph curveball to Matt Olson, then a 74.2 mph curveball. The two consecutive pitches were the slowest of his career. Musgrove shook his right arm, prompting a meeting on the mound. Moments later, he left the game, walking alongside Padres athletic trainer Ben Fraser.
The initial concern surrounding Musgrove’s exit had to do with his right elbow. Twice in the regular season, the 31-year-old went on the injured list because of elbow inflammation. The second stint for more than two months. Musgrove returned in mid-August and soon began to resemble his vintage self, pitching to a 2.15 ERA in nine starts.
The Padres’ rotation possesses the depth to weather an extended absence for Musgrove, should it come to that. Dylan Cease, who threw a no-hitter this season, is lined up to start the team’s next game. Yu Darvish, the staff’s most experienced starter, would follow. In Game 1 of the Padres’ Wild Card Series, Michael King continued his ascent toward stardom with seven scoreless innings, 12 strikeouts and no walks.
But no Padres starter has delivered in October like Musgrove, who was twice a playoff hero in 2022.
This story will be updated.
(Photo of Musgrove: Denis Poroy / Imagn Images)
