Padres Notes: Jake Cronenworth Update, Walker Buehler is Back, Orioles Slugger to SD?
Padres Notes: Jake Cronenworth Update, Walker Buehler is Back, Orioles Slugger to SD?
Catch up on all the latest Padres news and notes.Gabe Smallson|Jun 20, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Walker Buehler (10) throws to the plate against the Texas Rangers during the second inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
The San Diego Padres lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-2, on Sunday afternoon and fell to 43-39 on the year.
Right-handed pitcher Michael King went 4.1 innings, striking out five while allowing four earned runs and four walks. His ERA rose to 3.55 as he was handed his seventh loss of the season.
On the offensive side of things, superstar third baseman Manny Machado got the Friars on the board with a towering solo home run in the bottom of the fourth. After a three-run fifth inning by the Dodgers, Xander Bogaerts brought Jackson Merrill home in the sixth inning, but that would be the extent of the Padres offense on Sunday.
In other news, Padres manager Craig Stammen spoke on what infielder Jake Cronenworth's return timeline is like as he continues to recover from a concussion.
“I think he’s gonna give us a little bit of indication of, ‘Yeah, I feel ready, my timing is back,’” Stammen said. “It’s a little bit almost like spring training, where we’ve got to just more so — not like health-wise but just like baseball-wise — am I ready to play baseball? Am I ready to play every day when I get back?”
Additionally, right-hander Walker Buehler appears to be back to his All-Star and World Series-clinching self with a 1.71 ERA over his last five starts.
After a convincing performance on Friday where Buehler allowed just one run and struck out five across 5.1 innings, Dodgers third baseman and former teammate Max Muncy best encapsulated what Buehler's return to familiar form has been like.
“His command was really good tonight," Muncy said. “He was mixing his pitches — but he’s always done that. Just the way it looks, he’s a couple years removed from losing his velocity. That happens when you have injuries. I just think he’s learned how to navigate that.
“He’s a very smart pitcher. He always has been. I think it’s just took time for him to learn what his arsenal was and go from there.”
Finally, the Padres have been linked to a Baltimore Orioles slugger as trade deadline rumors intensify. With the offense ranking last in MLB in batting average and OPS, bringing in a power bat (or two) before Aug. 3 can prove to be season-altering for the Friars.
Here’s all the latest Padres news and stories (click the headline for the full article):
Rodolfo Durán on not challenging the costly walk to Freddie Freeman "That's on me, I need to do a better job with it. I thought it was lower but it wasn't."@FriarTerritorypic.twitter.com/HFsSBQEUk5
Gabe Smallson is a sportswriter based in Los Angeles with a focus in sports and entertainment content. Gabe has previously worked at Newsweek and Dodgers Nation. He graduated from San Francisco State University in 2020 and received his Masters of Science at the University of Southern California in 2025.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
GABE SMALLSON
