Manny

Machado

Machado took Ryan Feltner deep for a two-run shot to draw the Padres to within a run at 4-3. That’s the second homer of the season for the probable future Hall of Famer, and ups his slugging percentage to .370. Both numbers are sure to go up — assuming good health, of course — in the warmer months.

It’s just a routine day off for Machado, who doesn’t get many of those. Miguel Andujar will start at third base with Nick Castellanos in the lineup at designated hitter.

The homer over the Green Monster was very impressive, coming on a changeup that was nearly a foot inside. Machado also came up big in the Padres’ three-run third inning. On first after a single, he kicked a pickoff throw from catcher Carlos Narvaez past first baseman Willson Conteras, allowing two runners to advance. It was pretty obviously intentional, which should have led to him being called out, but the umpires let him get away with it.

Caminero has been one of the driving forces behind the Dominican Republic’s relentless onslaught during the international tournament, hitting .275 (6-for-16) with two homers and six RBI through five contests. He’ll help anchor a star-studded lineup as the Dominican Republic faces Team USA ace Paul Skenes at loanDepot Park in Miami with a berth in the World Baseball Classic final at stake. Here’s the full lineup: Fernando Tatis Jr. (RF), Ketel Marte (2B), Juan Soto (LF), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B), Manny Machado (3B), Caminero (DH), Julio Rodríguez (CF), Austin Wells (C) and Geraldo Perdomo (SS).

Machado is typically pretty quiet most springs — he hasn’t had more than two homers or six RBI in an entire Cactus League season since joining the Padres in 2019 — but he certainly made his presence known today. He’ll soon join the Dominican team in the WBC, and he figures to get most of the playing time at third base with José Ramírez absent initially and Junior Caminero likely to DH.

The American League winners will be announced on Friday night. Here is the complete list of winners for the senior circuit: Hunter Goodman (C), Pete Alonso (1B), Ketel Marte (2B), Manny Machado (3B), Geraldo Perdomo (SS), Juan Soto (OF), Corbin Carroll (OF), Kyle Tucker (OF), Ohtani (DH) and Alec Burleson (UTIL). Ohtani has claimed the award in back-to-back seasons since joining the Dodgers and four times overall in his career. Soto takes home the honor in his Mets debut, giving him six in eight seasons. At this rate, he might need an entire room just to display them all by the time his 15-year megadeal is through. Alonso, Perdomo, Goodman, Carroll and Burleson are all first-time winners.

Machado gave San Diego a commanding three-run advantage with a fifth-inning homer against Cubs southpaw Shota Imanaga. The 33-year-old third baseman’s no-doubter traveled 404 feet into the left-field seats and was his 13th career playoff round-tripper since 2012. With the victory, the Padres stave off elimination to force a winner-take-all Game 3 showdown on Thursday afternoon at Wrigley Field.

With the game being inconsequential for playoff purposes, the Padres will use it as an opportunity to get their 33-year-old superstar a breather before the postseason begins. Jose Iglesias will start in his place at the hot corner and will bat sixth for the Padres against Diamondbacks’ southpaw Eduardo Rodriguez.

It’s Machado’s first four-strikeout game since Apr. 30, 2023 and sixth of his career. A poor September has his OPS down to .787, putting him in between where he finished in 2023 (.782) and 2024 (.797). He stood at .871 through four months this season.

Machado flipped this game on its head with his fifth inning grand slam. His Padres loaded the bases with a hit batsman, walk, and bunt single before he made Mets’ starter David Peterson pay for a 3-2 curveball that caught way too much of the plate. It broke a 2-2 tie and was the 14th grand slam of Machado’s career. He’s put together another excellent season with 26 homers, 14 stolen bases, and a .279 batting average.