Outlook bright for Padres with pitchers returning — and perhaps a trade or two at deadline

const iframe document getElementById newspack-iframe-wv axn NP bg const timerId setInterval function iframe src iframe src iframe onload function clearInterval timerId At the All Star break the Padres have a - record and with the crew getting healthier on the mound San Diego could be poised for another memorable playoff run Veteran right-hander Yu Darvish returned to the Friars rotation July after three months of rehab for elbow inflammation In he went - with a ERA in regular season starts In his first start this year Darvish struck out the first batter he faced the Diamondbacks Corbin Carroll but earned a loss after giving up two runs in four and two-thirds innings In his second start July Darvish gave up four runs in four and two-thirds innings The squad could welcome back another righty in early August Michael King who s been on the -day injured list since May with a nerve issue in his throwing shoulder Right-hander Joe Musgrove could potentially return to the lineup too if er when the club makes the postseason Musgrove who underwent Tommy John surgery last October began playing catch off the mound the week before the break He has disclosed that he believes he can return to battle action in the postseason which begins Sept At eight games above the Padres have reason to hope they can secure that playoff spot Their winning percentage at the break this year is better than at the same point during either of their past two campaigns At last year s All Star break San Diego also had a winning record - but had won justfour of its last games Yu Darvish in File photo by Chris Stone Times of San Diego This year the squad bounced back from a rough June by winning six of its last games The Friars will begin the latter half of the season in the final wild card slot just ahead of the Giants - They trail the - Dodgers as unfailingly it seems by games The Padres resume play Friday with a three-game series inside the beltway against the Nationals Moves before the deadline Looming ahead is the July exchange deadline Over the years company executive A J Preller has become known for his daring at the deadline shore up weaknesses with midseason trades A scant days ahead of the All-Star break Preller stated in an interview with MLB Organization Radio that the Padres have feelers out to gauge if difference-makers might be available We started making calls a meager weeks ago and just checking in and seeing what teams arethinking about doing so we can line up our coverage and how we want to go about it and whowe want to focus on he revealed Adding one or two strong hitters is a possibility they could join the bottom of the lineup or come off the bench The Padres haven t received much production from catchers or left fielders this year and they could arrangement for either position Baseball pundits think Red Sox outfielder Jarron Duran would be a good fit in left if the Padres don t have to give up too much in return Growing talent The Padres are also planning for the future With the th overall pick in the MLB Draft July the Padres drafted a high schooler for the ninth consecutive year Kruz Schoolcraft a left-hander from Oregon who isn t a shabby hitter either The crew has until July to sign Schoolcraft away from his commitment to the University of Tennessee Also on the first day of the draft San Diego took outfielder Ryan Wideman out of WesternKentucky University in the third round The club didn t have a second round pick In the fourth and fifth rounds the Padres selected right-handed pitcher Michael Salina out of St Bonaventure University in New York and catcher Ty Harvey from Inspiration Academy in Bradenton Florida Highlights from the first half The Padres best competitor so far this year has been third baseman Manny Machado whose batting average is th among MLB players He also has home runs and RBIs On July Machado became just the fifth functioning player and th contestant ever to reach career hits more than which have come in San Diego where he signed as a free agent in Achieving the milestone puts him in impressive company Only five other players to wear a Padres uniform notched -plus hits during their careers Tony Gwynn Steve Garvey Graig Nettles Garry Templeton and Mike Piazza The other superstar on the roster Fernando Tatis Jr hasn t performed as well as usual this season and has beeen mired in a slump in latest weeks to boot The right fielder has a batting average with homers and RBIs That was still good enough to make the All-Star group In all the Padres sent five players to Atlanta the same number of players the Dodgers sent and two more than the Giants Tatis Jr and pitchers Adrian Morejon Robert Su rez and Jason Adam received All-Star bids and Machado started the challenge at third Let s make no mention though of the two batters Morej n put on base in the seventh inning before the Giants Randy Rodriguez a fellow reliever in the NL West gave up a three-run shot