Joe Musgrove will not be taking the mound in the NLDS.

Right-handed pitcher Joe Musgrove of the Padres departed from his start in the Wild Card series due to discomfort in his pitching elbow. Manager Mike Shildt announced to the media today that Musgrove will not be included on the team's roster for the NLDS and will not participate in the series. However, the manager refrained from making any predictions regarding the right-hander's availability following this series. AJ Cassavell of MLB.com was among those who shared this information on X. This is a disappointing turn of events for the Padres, who are aiming to defeat the Dodgers in the series that begins tomorrow. Although Musgrove has faced difficulties this season, he remains one of the team's top pitchers and had been performing well towards the conclusion of the regular season. He recorded a 5.66 earned run average through the end of May and had previously missed several weeks earlier that month due to elbow inflammation. In early June, he was diagnosed with a bone spur in his elbow, leading to his transfer to the 60-day injured list, from which he did not return until mid-August. He concluded the season strongly, making nine starts in the final stretch with a 2.15 ERA, a 29.1% strikeout rate, and a 4.1% walk rate. In the second game of the Wild Card round against Atlanta, he performed well, pitching 3 2/3 innings with four strikeouts and no walks, allowing only one earned run. However, his velocity was diminished, and he was taken out after just 44 pitches. The team later confirmed the issue as elbow tightness.

Given Musgrove's ongoing elbow problems throughout the year, it is reasonable to question whether there is a long-term concern that will need to be addressed. Shildt has been reticent about the situation, so the full implications may not be immediately clear. Should any significant surgical intervention be necessary, it could have a considerable effect on the team moving into next season. In the meantime, the Padres will need to navigate the series without Musgrove. Dylan Cease and Yu Darvish are slated to start the first two games against the Dodgers, while Michael King pitched the opening game against Atlanta, achieving 12 strikeouts.