Padres Get Good News After Juan Soto Scratched from Game

Padres outfielder Juan Soto missed Monday's game with left calf tightness, but manager Bob Melvin says it was just precautionary and he'll be back soon.

Padres outfielder Juan Soto was a late scratch from Monday's lineup for San Diego's game against the Dodgers with left calf tightness. After the game, which the Friars lost, 7-6, manager Bob Melvin had a positive report on Soto.

Bob Melvin said Juan Soto’s calf was just a little tight this morning and he was scratched as a precaution. There is a good chance he plays in tomorrow’s Cactus League game.

— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) February 27, 2023

Spring training is notorious for precautionary scratches, and at this point it looks like all it was with Soto's calf. It's been quite cool by Arizona standards so far this spring, with highs in the 60s and lows in the 30s. Throw in the dry air, and it's easy to get a muscle cramp or tightness in that sort of weather.

Melvin says there's a good chance Soto will play on Tuesday, although that obviously mostly depends on how the slugger feels when he wakes up in the morning. With a player of Soto's value, there's no way the team will press their luck by sending him out there at anything less than 100 percent. Even with Melvin's statement, it wouldn't be surprising to see Soto sit another day or two just to be extra sure he's okay.

Soto is expected to be a huge part of the Padres' lineup this year. He struggled a bit after San Diego acquired him at the trade deadline last year, but he remains one of the best hitters in baseball. Along with Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, and the returning Fernando Tatis Jr., Soto is part of an extremely talented top of the lineup for the Friars. 

Whether we see Soto on Tuesday or not, his health is what's most important to Melvin and the team right now.