Padres News: Manny Machado paternity leave, Dylan Cease, top prospect heating up

After a brief three-game homestand saw the San Diego Padres lose a pair of games to the Toronto Blue Jays, the Friars have ripped off two straight wins. Of course, a trip to Denver against this year's Colorado Rockies' squad should be the cure to what ails any team this season.

The Padres began a four-game road trip to the Mile High City on Monday and walked out of Coors Field with a 3-1 victory over the hapless Rockies. But San Diego wasn't full strength, as Manny Machado was not in the starting lineup. While Machado has dealt with some injuries earlier this season, the Padres third baseman had a good reason for missing Monday's game.

Padres News: Manny Machado placed on paternity list

Machado will miss the series against the Rockies after being placed on the paternity list. Manny and his wife Yainee are expecting their first child. A player placed on the paternity list can miss up to three games while allowing another player on the 40-man roster to take his spot.

The Padres recalled Matthew Batten to fill in for the All-Star during his absence. The Padres wrap up their series with the Colorado Rockies on Thursday afternoon. It's not yet known if Machado will rejoin the club in Denver later this week or wait for the Friars to return on Friday for the weekend series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Padres News: Dylan Cease continues to dominate

There were certainly some question marks when the Padres pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Chicago White Sox this offseason. But Dylan Cease has been everything the Padres could have hoped for, and more.

Cease went seven innings against the Rockies on Monday night. The right-hander allowed just one run on one hit and struck out eight opposing batters. This was Cease's follow up to a six-inning, seven-strikeout performance just last week against the Milwaukee Brewers. Is it too early to start talking about the NL Cy Young Award?

Padres News: Top prospect Dillon Head is heating up

Padres fans are familiar with Ethan Salas, Dylan Lesko, and even Leodalis De Vries. But Dillon Head is a name that the Friar faithful need to become more aware of. Last year's first-round pick is currently at Low-A Lake Elsinore, and his bat is heating up.

Head is hitting .254/.343/.373 on the season, but over the past five games, the 19-year-old outfielder is hitting .381/.500/.571 with a wRC+ of 188 and multiple hits in four of those five contests. Head has six multi-hit games so far this season. This has been a terrific start to Head's first full season in the pros.

Don't look now, but things are looking up for the Pads, but on and off the field.

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