Guardians vs. Padres Wednesday MLB injury report, odds: Juan Soto expected out of starting lineup again

The playoff-hopeful Cleveland Guardians and San Diego Padres complete a quick two-game interleague series this afternoon at Petco Park, and the Guardians' chances of a sweep are much better with the likelihood that Padres All-Star outfielder Juan Soto will be out of the starting lineup for the second straight game. That San Diego is a -160 favorite at Caesars Sportsbook is a bit of a surprise.

If you backed the Padres on Tuesday against Cleveland, it had to sting when Soto was ruled out just moments before the first pitch with left mid-back tightness. His back flared up while he was in the batting cage shortly before first pitch. During the game, Soto took further swings in the cage, hoping he might get a chance to pinch-hit, but he wasn't able to.

He's not expected to start today so he can rest up ahead of the team's next game Friday in Kansas City. Soto's .436 on-base percentage in his career in interleague games is the third highest all-time (minimum 150 plate appearances). He trails Larry Walker's .455 OBP and Barry Bonds' .501. 

Soto has been solid since coming over from the Nationals, batting .286 with two homers and four RBI, but the team is 8-10 with him in the lineup. The Padres weren't hitting all that well with him and were held to one run in Tuesday's loss – it didn't help that Brandon Drury, another trade deadline acquisition, was ejected for arguing balls and strikes in the fourth inning.

In the first five games of this six-game homestand, the Padres are 2-3 and have scored a total of nine runs. No team in the majors has stranded more runners this season than San Diego and obviously Fernando Tatis Jr. won't be coming to the rescue. The Padres currently hold down the final NL Wild Card spot, 1.5 games ahead of Milwaukee, and are -280 to make the playoffs with No at +225.

It was to be Yu Darvish's turn on the mound Wednesday, and he has been fantastic at home, but he landed on the paternity leave list Tuesday so lefty Blake Snell (5-6, 3.76 ERA) will start instead. The former AL Cy Young Award winner will be on normal rest because the Friars were off Monday. Snell is 2-1 with a 1.99 ERA in four August starts but has a 4.87 ERA in four day starts this year, compared to a 3.41 mark at night.

Cleveland goes with former Padres right-hander Cal Quantrill (9-5, 3.77). He has been much worse on the road (3-5, 4.34) than at home (6-0, 3.38).  

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