As anticipated, Machado will make his return to the lineup for the first time since last Tuesday, after a bout with back tightness prompted the Padres to hold him out. The fact that the Padres are deploying Machado in the field Tuesday rather than at designated hitter suggests that the team doesn't have much concern about the back issue being something that will require extra management throughout the spring.

The San Diego Padres have a lot to prove in 2025. A dominant 2024 that saw 93-wins in the regular season ended two runs away from knocking out the eventual Worl