Padres News: Don’t worry about Wil Myers’ knee inflammation

Guys, I have some news. Knee inflammation isn’t a season-ending injury. It’s obviously not ideal, but it’s far from the end of the world. So if you’re a Padres fan worrying over Wil Myers, who’s gotten off to an insane start this year, don’t be.

Myers left San Diego’s ugly 8-4 loss on Tuesday night in the fourth after a busy few innings in the outfield. Of course, the night prior, he tallied a five-RBI game that cemented his early standing as one of the most dangerous hitters in the lineup right now.

But with the first showdown with the Dodgers looming this weekend, there is zero reason to take any chances.

"“It’s basically some inflammation in his right knee,” Padres manager Jayce Tingler told MLB.com. “He’s been playing through some things for maybe the last week or so. But today, as the game went on, it got worse. He came out and we figured let’s not push it.”"

More from Friars on Base

• Padres fighting with hated rival to sign quality veteran relief pitcher
• Jurickson Profar free agency update likely rules out Padres reunion
• Fernando Tatis Jr. may not take to outfield move after Xander Bogaerts addition
• Padres News: Fernando Tatis Jr. trade rumors, Seth Lugo chase, Manny Machado
• Padres barely missed out on high-end veteran starting pitcher

Myers owns a team-best 1.096 OPS on the year – the sixth-highest mark in the National League. Tingler is giving his veteran outfielder the day off Wednesday to rest his knee – although he said if needed, he’d likely be available off the bench. The plan right now is for Myers to be back in the lineup for Thursday’s finale at PNC Park before the team heads home to San Diego.

Padres: It’s a grind – and guys are going to get banged up

Myers doesn’t get nearly the credit he deserves. Since the start of last year’s pandemic-shortened campaign, he’s been one of the biggest bats in the Padres’ lineup. Everyone loves to talk about Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. but Myers has put up a .297/.368/.615 (170 OPS+) since the start of last season.

With Tatis Jr. nearing a return himself, letting Myers get off his feet for a day and letting the knee calm down is the right move. I’m sorry, but if you can’t beat the Pirates without him (especially with Joe Musgrove on the mound for the first time since his no-no), we’ve got bigger problems.

In his stead, the Padres are going with an outfield of Trent Grisham in center, flanked by Jurickson Profar in right and Tommy Pham in left Wednesday. Grisham is riding a hot streak of his own since coming off the IL, smacking home runs in three-straight contests.

Hopefully, come Thursday or Friday, Myers is back in the middle of the San Diego lineup doing what he does best: punishing pitchers’ mistakes.