San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado sent a warning to MLB opponents after a five-RBI game against the Texas Rangers on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
The performance came amid a severe season-long batting slump.
>>> Caglianone and Antonacci Lead Week 14 Fantasy Baseball Waiver Targets
Machado is currently hitting . 178 with 13 home runs, 41 RBIs, and a .
623 OPS, according to Yahoo Sports. The veteran infielder altered his offseason routine, which apparently affected his consistency at the plate.
Despite the low batting average, Machado remains confident in his abilities. “The homers are there, the RBIs are there,” he said.
“Key situations when I'm up there, you still gotta be afraid. I can do damage like I did today.”
The seven-time All-Star believes his reputation still commands respect from opposing pitchers.
“It doesn't matter, you see those numbers up there, you know, you see the back of my jersey and you're gonna know who I am,” Machado added.
>>> Algeria Face Must-Win World Cup Clash Against Jordan in Santa Clara
Machado acknowledged the difficulty of his slump but expressed gratitude for his teammates' support. “Nobody wants to be in the position I'm in right now.
You know, obviously, it sucks,” he said.
“But yeah, man, I think everybody in here has my back, and it's always powerful whenever you have guys like that, that are battling with you, and it makes the battle a little easier.”
Machado is under contract with the Padres for seven more seasons at $39 million annually.
His struggles, along with those of other key players, have contributed to San Diego having one of the least productive offenses in the league.
Coaching Staff Working to Turn Things Around
Padres coach Craig Stammen said the coaching staff is working daily to find solutions.
>>> US Security Officials Block Egypt World Cup Flight to Seattle
“The coaches are working every single day diligently, trying to find that one little solution that might unlock some of our perennial All-Stars that are struggling right now or unlock the offense in general together to be able to score some more runs,” Stammen said.
