Padres' Fernando Tatis Cleared for Monday Despite Hamstring Injury

Fernando Tatis Jr. experienced some right hamstring tightness during the San Diego Padres' 7-2 loss to the Minnesota Twins but is expected to play in Monday's game against the Baltimore Orioles. Despite grabbing his hamstring in the seventh inning and exiting the game early, Tatis downplayed the injury, describing it as "a little tightness, nothing crazy," and confirmed he would not miss any playing time. This update is reassuring for the Padres, who are battling the Los Angeles Dodgers for the National League West title and cannot afford further significant injuries after losing key players like Xander Bogaerts and Jackson Merrill. Tatis, a critical player for the Padres with multiple All-Star selections and strong postseason performances, has recently returned to his power-hitting form after a 128-plate appearance homer drought. The team remains just two games behind the Dodgers with everything still to play for in the final month of the regular season, aiming for a playoff first-round bye by securing the second-best record in the NL. Tatis’s defensive skills and offensive contributions continue to be vital for the Padres’ postseason hopes.