As of Monday, the San Diego Padres had played 150 games of the 2025 MLB season. Third baseman Manny Machado had played in every single one entering Sunday's series finale against the Colorado Rockies.
While there have been plenty of injury woes with San Diego, Machado had been a steady force in the lineup, although questions recently came about whether or not Machado should've been given a day off.
Well, Sunday was the day, and manager Mike Shildt rested Machado and put veteran Jose Iglesias at third base with Mason McCoy playing shortstop as Jake Cronenworth also received a day off.
Thankfully for San Diego, it worked out. The Padres bats broke out in a 9-6 win over the Rockies with Gavin Sheets hitting a go-ahead three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning in what had been a tie game.
Afterwards, Machado spoke about having a day off, via Eric Evelhoch of The Sporting Tribune.
All that matters is winning. For me to get a day off, I had confidence in the team that they were going to go out there and perform, leave it all out there and they did that," Machado said. "To sit back and watch a game was pretty fun."
Machado has a .277 batting average with 25 home runs and 88 RBI on the season, so his bat has been a constant presence in the lineup despite Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill missing time throughout the year.
However, Machado didn't seem to mind, especially with San Diego coming out on the winning side of things.
On the other hand, it was a bit of a questionable move by Shildt, especially since Machado had four hits with four RBI and two home runs in the previous two games after going hitless in four straight.
The Padres now have a pivotal three-game series against the New York Mets, who are barely holding on to the third spot in the National League Wild Card standings, so the expectations is that Machado will be in the lineup for each of the games.