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Padres star Manny Machado hits embarrassing low in 3-0 loss to Phillies
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- Padres star Manny Machado hits embarrassing low in 3-0 loss to Phillies
Padres star Manny Machado hits embarrassing low in 3-0 loss to Phillies appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Manny Machado ’s difficult 2026 start reached another low Monday night for the San Diego Padres . San Diego fell 3-0 to the Philadelphia Phillies at Petco Park, and Machado’s slump has become the central storyline after another quiet performance from a lineup still searching for answers from their captain.
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The Padres vs. Phillies series opener also exposed a broader offensive problem. Machado went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, making the conversation surrounding his current .170 batting average even harder to ignore as San Diego left 10 runners in scoring position. For a Padres team built around star power, the latest offensive lapse was especially frustrating.
The missed opportunity arrived immediately. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Miguel Andujar opened the first inning with singles before a Trea Turner error loaded the bases with no outs. Jesus Luzardo responded by striking out Machado and Jackson Merrill , and Nick Castellanos ended the inning with a groundout.
Padres Data Daily took to X, formerly Twitter, postgame and put the Padres captain’s season-long slide into sharper perspective.
“ Manny Machado has the lowest batting average in the NL among qualified hitters.”
The post fit the way the game unfolded. San Diego threatened again in the third after Tatis singled and Andujar walked, giving Machado another chance to change the inning. Instead, he grounded into a shortstop-to-second-to-first double play, ending another prime opportunity and allowing Philadelphia to escape.
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The Phillies did not need much offense to take control. Kyle Schwarber opened the scoring with his MLB-leading 21st home run, while Brandon Marsh added a two-run shot in the seventh inning. Luzardo handled the rest, holding the Padres scoreless over six innings and forcing San Diego to keep chasing missed chances.
Machado’s batting average now carries more weight than one poor box score. The Padres fell to 31-22 and still sit second in the NL West, but they need more production from the seven-time MLB All-Star. If Machado cannot reset soon, the questions around San Diego’s lineup will only continue to grow.
Related: Why Padres’ Nick Castellanos will remember his Phillies tenure forever
Related: MLB rumors: Padres linked to trade for breakout Rockies star in addition to Aroldis Chapman
