The San Diego Padres entered Tuesday searching for answers at the plate, and Manny Machado’s 2026 struggles remain central to the conversation. San Diego’s offense has lacked consistency, while the veteran slugger’s uncharacteristic slump has added pressure to a tense stretch.
Machado spoke candidly before the Padres faced the St. Louis Cardinals on the road in the second game of their three-game set currently underway. The third baseman acknowledged the team’s poor at-bat performance while trying to frame the struggles as something San Diego can still move past.
The numbers explain the concern. Machado has hovered around a .175 batting average with 12 home runs, 35 RBIs, and a .613 OPS. The power still shows flashes, but steady contact has not followed.
TNT Sports shared the clip on X, formerly Twitter, featuring MLB Network’s Jake Peavy discussing Machado’s 2026 offensive struggles and asking him how the club plans to address their ongoing offensive issues as a whole.
“Manny Machado tells @JakePeavy_22 he’s hoping the Padres are ‘getting the bad out of the way early’ in response to their poor at bat performance”
Manny Machado tells @JakePeavy_22 he's hoping the Padres are "getting the bad out of the way early" in response to their poor at bat performance
pic.twitter.com/In49cWUyNx
— TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) June 16, 2026
The veteran’s answer sounded honest rather than defensive. The seven-time MLB All-Star has dealt with mechanical issues, including opening too early and losing rhythm after a shortened spring training.
The turnaround matters beyond one player. The Padres’ offense depends on Machado producing closer to his career norms, especially with the club trying to stay competitive in the playoff picture.
Peavy’s presence also added context. As a former San Diego ace, he gave the conversation a familiar bridge between the franchise’s past and its current frustration.
Still, Machado’s message left room for optimism. If the Padres are clearing out their worst offensive stretch now, they still have time to stabilize before the season tightens.
The next step must come from better at-bats, not just hopeful words. Machado knows that, and his blunt answer made the challenge clear as the Padres headed to the bottom of the seventh trailing the Cardinals, 3-2, with Machado 0-for-3 with two strikeouts on the night.
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