Manny Machado Gets Brutally Honest on Padres' Tough Stretch

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Manny Machado Gets Brutally Honest on Padres' Tough Stretch

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Andrew Jamieson | Last updated Jun 5, 2026 10:45 AM ET

Times have been rough for the San Diego Padres as of late.

With the Padres' 6-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday, San Diego finished the season series against Philadelphia 0-6. The defeat marked the Padres' fifth consecutive loss and ninth in their last 10 games. Six of those came at the hands of the Phillies.

Their offense has gone largely silent during that stretch, scoring just 26 runs. The Padres have also been shut out twice over their last 10 games and have scored at least five runs only once. That came in their lone victory during the span, a May 29 win over the Washington Nationals.

Manny Machado, San Diego's star third baseman, has played poorly in this stretch. Over his last 10 games, Machado is batting just .162 with six hits, three home runs, and eight RBIs.

Following Thursday's loss, Machado didn't hold back when discussing the team's recent play.

“People are frustrated,” Machado said. “The fans want us to win games. So do we. We’re more frustrated than anybody. We want to turn things around. Everybody on this ballclub is trying to do that. So we’re going to keep working, just know that we’re still in a good position, even though we’re playing like [expletive]."

A notably sullen Manny Machado was asked how the Padres can stop things from getting worse. "I don't think it can get worse," he said. "There's only one way: Up."

Machado then offered this (emojis necessary): pic.twitter.com/AOq1xGZHSF
— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) June 4, 2026

The recent skid has only magnified what has been a season-long struggle for San Diego's offense. The Padres rank last in Major League Baseball in batting average (.216), runs scored (235), on-base percentage (.291), OPS (.651), and hits (428). Their slugging percentage (.360) is just one point higher than the league's lowest mark, currently owned by the New York Mets at .359.

Those numbers are shocking for a lineup that includes the likes of Fernando Tatis Jr ., Xander Bogaerts, Jackson Merrill, and Machado.

Tatis is batting .270 with a .340 on-base percentage, while Bogaerts is hitting .231 with a .304 OBP. Merrill owns a .207 batting average and .280 OBP, while Machado has struggled to a .174 average and .262 OBP.

The San Diego Padres offense since May 1st:

75 wRC+, Last in MLB
.298 xwOBA, 29th in MLB
.372 xSlug%, T-26th in MLB
.200 average, Last in MLB
— Clark Fahrenthold (@CFahrenthold11) June 4, 2026

Through 59 games in 2026, Machado is slashing .174/.262/.357 with 11 home runs and 32 RBIs. For a player with seven All-Star selections and three Silver Slugger awards, it has been an unusually difficult season.

San Diego's lack of offensive production has hindered them all season. The Padres own a 3.93 team ERA and have one of baseball's top bullpens, led by back-to-back National League Reliever of the Month Mason Miller.

Great pitching can carry a team for stretches, but sustained success requires offensive production. Right now, the Padres are living that reality.

Despite their offensive woes, there is still time for San Diego to turn things around.

“I don’t think it can get worse,” Machado said. “I mean, there’s only one way: Up.”

The Padres now sit third in the NL West at 32-29 after the Arizona Diamondbacks leapfrogged them in the standings last night. San Diego trails the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers by seven games and sits a half-game out of the National League's third Wild Card spot.

The Padres will return home following a 1-5 road trip to open a three-game series against the Mets beginning Friday at 9:40 pm ET.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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