Padres' target date for Fernando Tatis Jr.'s return: April 16

As if Joe Musgrove’s no-hitter wasn’t enough good news for the Padres, Fernando Tatis Jr. was taking grounders before Friday’s game. Tatis is on the 10-day IL recovering from a slight tear in his left labrum, but the ugly-looking injury might keep the shortstop out of action for a relatively short period of time. Tatis’ shoulder inflammation has decreased to the point that he has been able to do some fielding work, and he could keep gradually ramping up his baseball activity as long as his shoulder remains sound, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune wrote yesterday.

Manager Jayce Tingler sounded cautiously optimistic talking to Acee and other reporters on Saturday, as Tatis is now also taking part in hitting and running drills. “We want to take it day by day, but we feel confident if we can continue down this road, we’re going to be in a good position for him to be activated” by April 16, Tingler said. That would be the first day Tatis would be eligible to leave the injured list, and it would put him on pace to be in the lineup as the Padres began a big series with the Dodgers.

More from around the National League…

• Mets GM Zack Scott provided reporters (including the New York Daily News’ Deesha Thosar) with updates on Noah Syndergaard and Seth Lugo, saying that both right-handers are on schedule with their injury rehab. Lugo underwent bone spur surgery on his throwing elbow in February, and is expected to be back at some point in May. Syndergaard is set to throw a live batting practice this weekend, in the latest step in his recovery from Tommy John surgery in March 2020. If all continues to go well for Syndergaard, he is on pace to rejoin the Mets’ rotation before the end of June.
• Between a torn ACL in 2019 and then a tough time recovering from that injury (on top of all the other unusual elements last season) in 2020, Andrew McCutchen has some unfinished business as he enters the last guaranteed season of his three-year, $50 million contract with the Phillies. “I had a lot of catching up to do last season,” McCutchen told The Athletic’s Matt Gelb, noting that it wasn’t until the Phillies’ last few games in September that he really felt comfortable. Now, however, McCutchen is entering the year with the benefit of a full spring training, and there are “no limitations for myself. No hindrance. No thinking, second-guessing. Really pushing myself to where I didn’t I feel like I had to guard. ... So, going into this spring, I was just saying, ’I feel like myself. I can squat and play and do what I need to do here in the games.’ ” It’s a good sign for McCutchen as he enters his age-34 season as the Phils’ regular left fielder, and he also pointed out that there aren’t many everyday outfielders of his age remaining in a sport that has become increasingly less inclined to regularly play veteran players.