As anticipated, Machado will make his return to the lineup for the first time since last Tuesday, after a bout with back tightness prompted the Padres to hold him out. The fact that the Padres are deploying Machado in the field Tuesday rather than at designated hitter suggests that the team doesn't have much concern about the back issue being something that will require extra management throughout the spring.

San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado sat out a second Cactus League game where the rest of the projected starters played because of back tightness. However, he did partake in drills Sunday ...