The Jacked List: August 18, 2026
Who’s hurt, who’s out, who’s coming back and when.
THE JACKED LIST
NICK PIVETTA, PADRES
Right elbow
Pivetta remains the biggest question mark in the Padres rotation.
He has been on the 60-day IL with right elbow inflammation after an MRI earlier this season revealed a flexor strain. His rehab hit another concerning moment when he exited an August 4 rehab start. The Padres paused his rehab progression, although he was able to throw in the bullpen afterward.
At this point, there’s still no return date I’m comfortable putting here as fact.
And with the Padres fighting for October, uncertainty around a starting pitcher isn’t what you want.
JACKED UP.
JASON ADAM, PADRES
Right shoulder
Adam remains sidelined with the right shoulder strain that put him on the IL at the end of June.
He played catch at low intensity from about 90 feet on August 18 and reported no pain. That’s an important step, but current reporting says he’s still at least a few weeks away.
Until there’s a firmer timetable, we’re not going to pretend we know the date.
JACKED UP.
RAMÓN LAUREANO, PADRES
Right hip
Laureano remains out following surgery to repair the torn labrum in his right hip.
He is on the 60-day IL, and current reporting says an October return is possible but 2027 is more likely.
Nothing about that changes today.
He’s still on the Jacked side.
JACKED UP.
MATT CHAPMAN, GIANTS
Core and hernia surgery
This one isn’t getting better before the end of the season.
Chapman underwent season-ending surgery after imaging revealed a hernia and torn core muscle, and the Giants transferred him to the 60-day IL.
For a Giants team that has already had enough go wrong:
VERY JACKED UP.
CASEY SCHMITT, GIANTS
Left knee
Schmitt underwent surgery after suffering a torn meniscus in his left knee, cutting short what had been a breakout season.
The procedure was a debridement of his lateral meniscus, with a six-to-eight-week rehab estimate. That puts any possible return near the end of the season, and the Giants have no reason to rush him.
At this point the Giants should be evaluating young players for 2027.
Losing one of the young players who had already started making his case is exactly the opposite of what they needed.
JACKED UP.
WILLY ADAMES, GIANTS
Lower back
An MRI showed a Grade 1 lower back strain, and the Giants expect Adames to return this season.
Manager Tony Vitello described him as day to day, although the Giants have been considering whether an IL stint might be necessary.
So he’s Jacked.
But hopefully temporarily.
JACKED, BUT COULD BE WORSE.
THE UNJACKED LIST
JOE MUSGROVE, PADRES
Tommy John rehab
This is the big one.
Musgrove appears to be right on the doorstep of returning to the Padres.
He completed what was expected to be his final Triple-A rehab start over the weekend, throwing 70 pitches over 4 2/3 innings with five strikeouts and one walk.
The results weren’t pretty, but the workload was the important part.
More importantly, current reporting has indicated that Musgrove is getting close to rejoining the Padres rotation. There is not yet a confirmed return date.
He’s coming back from Tommy John surgery.
He’s building back to a major-league workload.
And the Padres are playing meaningful baseball in August.
If Musgrove is anywhere close to Joe Musgrove when he returns, that’s a hell of an addition without making a trade.
VERY UNJACKED.
MARCELO MAYER, GIANTS
Left forearm
Mayer has been recovering from a bone stress reaction in his left ulna.
He is now on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento. Through his first three rehab games, Mayer went 5-for-14, including a home run.
He has not yet been activated by the Giants, but he could join them soon if he avoids a setback.
This is exactly what I want the Giants doing right now.
Get the young guys up.
Play them.
Find out who belongs on the next good Giants team.
I want to see Mayer.
UNJACKED.
MOST JACKED
Matt Chapman
Season-ending surgery.
There’s not much debate here.
The Giants already weren’t going anywhere, but losing one of their best players for the rest of the year is still:
VERY JACKED UP.
MOST UNJACKED
Joe Musgrove
This one is easy too.
He’s been trying to get back from Tommy John surgery for a long time.
Now we’re finally talking about him potentially pitching for the Padres again instead of talking about bullpens, live BP and rehab assignments.
And the timing couldn’t be much better.
The Padres are in a playoff race.
They’re trying to chase down the Dodgers.
They could use another legitimate starting pitcher.
Joe Musgrove getting this close to coming back:
VERY UNJACKED.
Who’s hurt.
Who’s out.
Who’s coming back.
And when.
That’s The Jacked List.
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