Suarez is the Padres' projected closer even after the team's addition of Yuki Matsui, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Matsui was recently inked to a five-year, $28 million contract and is expected to handle high-leverage innings, but Lin still views Suarez as the club's likely closer. Suarez -- who signed a five-year, $46 million deal last offseason to remain with the Padres -- was limited to just 26 appearances in 2023 while battling elbow issues, posting a 4.23 ERA and 24:10 K:BB across 27.2 innings. The 32-year-old ended the season healthy, though, and his 97.7 mph average four-seamer velocity was right in line with what he showed during his stellar 2022 campaign. Whether new manager Mike Shildt plans to name a closer isn't clear, but it would appear Suarez could have the early leg up.

The Padres reinstated Suarez (suspension) from the restricted list Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Suarez will rejoin the Padres for the start of their three-game series in Los Angeles that begins Monday after he completed a 10-game suspension for allegedly using a foreign substance during an Aug. 21 relief appearance. The setup man holds a 5.51 ERA and 13:5 K:BB over 16.1 innings for the Padres this season.

Padres manager Bob Melvin said Suarez has dropped the appeal of his 10-game suspension and will begin serving it Thursday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Major League Baseball handed Suarez the 10-game punishment last week for allegedly having a foreign substance on his arm as he prepared to make a relief appearance against the Marlins. He will be unavailable for a string of crucial series versus the Giants, Phillies and Astros.

Suarez was suspended 10 games Friday for the alleged use of foreign substances on the mound during Wednesday's win over Miami, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Suarez will appeal the decision and remain active until the appeal is heard. The 32-year-old reliever was ejected prior to appearing in the eighth inning of Wednesday's contest after umpires determined his left arm was too sticky. Suarez has been adamant that what the umpires found was just sunscreen.

Suarez notched a hold against the Tigers on Friday by pitching one perfect inning.

EDGE Analysis

Suarez made his season debut after a prolonged absence due to an elbow injury. San Diego manager Bob Melvin didn't hesitate to immediately deploy him in a high-leverage situation, bringing the right-hander in to protect a one-run eighth-inning lead. Suarez didn't show any signs of rust, retiring the side in order on 11 pitches. It appears the Padres may slot Suarez into a set-up role immediately as they seek to make up ground in the wild-card race.

Suarez (elbow) was activated from the 60-day injured list prior to Thursday's game in Toronto.

EDGE Analysis

The 32-year-old righty gave up six earned runs in five innings with more walks (five) than strikeouts (four) during his rehab assignment. Suarez could eventually start working in a setup role, but he will probably be eased back in low-leverage situations.

Padres manager Bob Melvin said Suarez (elbow) could be activated from the 60-day injured list Thursday, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Suarez has joined the Padres in Toronto and might finally be ready to be a contributor out of the bullpen. The 32-year-old right-hander re-upped with San Diego on a five-year, $46 million contract over the winter, but he missed the entire first half while recovering from a severe case of elbow inflammation.

Suarez (elbow) shifted his rehab assignment to Triple-A El Paso on Saturday and allowed one run on one hit and one walk while failing to strike out a batter in his lone inning of work.

EDGE Analysis

Suarez, who has been on the shelf all season while recovering from an elbow injury, was making his fifth rehab appearance overall but his first at El Paso after prior stints in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League and with Single-A Lake Elsinore. According to 97.3 The Fan San Diego, Padres manager Bob Melvin said Sunday that Suarez checked out "OK" following the rehab outing at El Paso, but the skipper noted that the reliever will "probably" require one more appearance in the minors before being activated from the 60-day injured list. Once he's reinstated, Suarez will likely settle in as a key setup man in front of closer Josh Hader.

Suarez (elbow) appeared in his second rehab game with the Arizona Complex League Padres on Tuesday, allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits and a walk over two-thirds of an inning.

EDGE Analysis

Suarez logged his first rehab outing of the season for the ACL club Saturday, allowing one hit and striking out two batters over one inning. His second appearance wasn't as smooth, though it's a positive sign that he's pitched twice in four days after missing the first three-plus months of the season due right elbow inflammation. Per MLB.com, Suarez is next expected to move his rehab stint to Triple-A El Paso on July 7. The Padres are hopeful that the righty reliever can return to the big-league bullpen sometime after the All-Star break.

Suarez (elbow) threw a bullpen session Friday and could face hitters "imminently," AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Suarez has yet to play this season after experiencing arm stiffness and elbow inflammation in mid-March during spring training. However, he's tossed multiple bullpens over the past few weeks and now appears set to take the next step in his recovery. Suarez will almost certainly require a minor-league rehab stint before joining the San Diego bullpen, but he could return in the first half of July.