Manny Machado's Early Exit: Padres' Lineup in Limbo

0:00On April 28, San Diego Padre star, Manny Machado, got yanked from Monday night's game against the Chicago Cubs right after grounding out in the bottom of the sixth. The team was up by one with innings left to play and he was on fire, going three for four with three runs scored before that. Machado even cranked his 400th career double in the fifth inning, part of a hot streak that's got him hitting safely in five straight games. Coming off two homers in Sunday's loss to Arizona, his bats finally clicking after a slow start to the season. With the Padre's clinging to that slim lead, pulling him early screams injury or some nagging issue and nobody saying much yet. The fan bases buzzing with worry since he's there every day anchor at third. Shifts happen quick, with Gavin Sheet sliding to first and Ty France covering third, but France shines more first way snagged the gold glove last year. If Machado hits the shelf, guys like Miguel Andujar or newcomer Sung Moon Sung could fill in, though songs still shaking off an oblique tweak from spring, Padre's can't take chances with their line of this deep into the grind, so fingers cross Machado's back swinging soon and keeping that momentum rolling.

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