The San Diego Padres have been chasing the Dodgers all season, and they’re about to get some help from a guy who hasn’t pitched in the majors since early May.
Germán Márquez is close. Really close. The right-hander has made five rehab starts for Triple-A El Paso and posted a 2.12 ERA. That’s not just empty numbers against minor league hitters. His arm looks healthy after a bout with right forearm nerve irritation that landed him on the 15-day IL on May 3.
MLB.com updated his status Wednesday and basically said the same thing: he’s nearing a return, probably late June or early July.
For a team chasing the NL West leaders, the timing couldn’t be better. The Padres signed Márquez to a one-year deal last winter specifically because they needed veteran innings. They knew the schedule would tighten. They knew the Dodgers series would matter more as summer wore on. And now here’s a guy with 144 career big league starts, essentially free of charge, ready to rejoin the rotation.
The front office has to be breathing a little easier. Instead of scrambling to make an early trade for a starter, they can treat Márquez like a midseason acquisition who already knows the clubhouse. That’s valuable flexibility. It means they don’t have to overpay for depth at the deadline. It means they can address other needs if they want.
Now, forearm stuff always makes you nervous with pitchers. Nerve irritation is one of those vague injuries that can linger. But five rehab outings without a setback is a pretty good sign. The Padres are watching his buildup carefully. They need to see how he feels after throwing 80-plus pitches in a real game. But the path is clear.
The NL West race is tightening. Every series against the Dodgers feels like a mini-playoff series. The Padres need reliable arms, and Márquez has been a reliable arm for most of his career. If he finishes the rehab clean, San Diego gets a proven starter for the season’s defining stretch.
That’s a big if. But it’s a better bet than most teams have right now.
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