SAN DIEGO —The most surprising postseason roster decision Tuesday was not Aaron Judge being off the New York Yankees' roster and Giancarlo Stanton on it, but in San Diego.
Starter Joe Musgrove, who has been sidelined for nearly two years recovering from Tommy John surgery, not pitching in a Major League Baseball game since Oct. 2, 2024, was placed on the Padres’ postseason roster ahead of their best-of-three wild card series against the Chicago Cubs.
Musgrove, who faced hitters twice in the past five days while hitting 97-mph on the radar gun with control of his breaking pitches, will be another valuable piece in the Padres bullpen.
The Padres became cautiously optimistic he could return when he pitched in an instructional league game last Tuesday
and then batting practice three days later.
He replaces Randy Vásquez, who threw 68 pitches over six innings on Sunday in the season finale, on the roster. Wandy Peralta and Griffin Canning were also left off the postseason roster.
The gamble with Musgrove is that he likely won’t be able to pitch in back-to-back games.
Musgrove, 33, the San Diego native who has pitched the Padres’ lone no-hitter in franchise history, was hoping to return this season but he had several setbacks while trying to return as a starter. He since has pitched in shorter stints as a reliever.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Padres playoff roster includes All-Star who hasn't pitched in two years
