Manny Machado, the star third baseman for the San Diego Padres, is set to return to the lineup as the designated hitter for Wednesday’s series finale against the Chicago Cubs at Petco Park. This marks Machado’s first appearance as a designated hitter this season, following a brief period of being available off the bench on Tuesday.

Machado's Return and Lineup Adjustments

The decision to include Machado as DH comes after careful consideration and his willingness to test his condition. Manager Mike Shildt expressed a desire to have him back in the lineup but ultimately left the choice up to the player. Shildt emphasized the importance of managing Machado’s health throughout the long season, noting it’s still early in April.

Machado has been on a remarkable five-game hitting streak, boasting a .409 batting average, a .409 on-base percentage, and a .773 slugging percentage, with two home runs during this stretch. He will bat third in Wednesday’s lineup, highlighting his offensive importance to the team. Ramón Laureano will receive a day off, having struggled recently with a .182 batting average over his last eight games.

Pitching Matchup and Team Performance

The Padres, currently holding a strong 19-10 record, have not lost a series since the early part of the season. They will face Cubs starter Jameson Taillon, who has a 2.40 ERA in five regular-season starts against San Diego and pitched four shutout innings in last year’s NL Wild Card Series.

San Diego will counter with pitcher Michael Waldron, making his first career start against the Cubs. Waldron relies on his knuckleball (31.3% of the time), but opponents are hitting .500 with a .929 slugging percentage against it. He has allowed 16 hits and two home runs through his first two starts.

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