Three official games, apparently, was enough to convince the Padres that Jake Cronenworth is ready to come off the injured list. The Padres are also ready to welcome back Bradgley Rodriguez after a 10-day break.
Both Cronenworth and Rodriguez have been activated ahead of Monday’s 5:05 p.m. start on Padres.TV. To make room, infield Will Wagner was optioned to Triple-A El Paso and right-hander David Morgan was placed on the 15-day injured list with left knee inflammation.
Cronenworth homered in his first rehab at-bat on Friday while playing seven innings at second base. He went 1-for-4 while serving as the DH on Saturday and 0-for-4 while playing nine innings in the field — first at shortstop and then at first base — on Sunday.
Cronenworth was hitting .144/.272/.196 in 32 games before landing on the concussion list on May 5.
He’d been rehabbing in Arizona for quite some time before finally getting clearance to play in rehab games on Friday.
Jake Cronenworth batting ninth in return to lineup.
Jackson Merrill batting sixth vs. #Cubs LHP Shota Imanaga. pic.twitter.com/XZlqHwBNY0
— Jeff Sanders (@sdutSanders) June 29, 2026
Cronenworth (.468 OPS) will bat ninth and play second base in his return to the lineup, which again puts leadoff hitter Fernando Tatis Jr. (.713 OPS) in right field.
Left fielder Samad Taylor (.792 OPS) will bat second, third baseman Manny Machado (.664 OPS) will bat third and designated hitter Miguel Andujar (.699 OPS) will bat fourth.
First baseman Ty France (.814 OPS) will bat fifth, followed by center fielder Jackson Merrill (.618 OPS), dropped to sixth against Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga.
Rodriguez was optioned to the minors after his June 17 appearance to provide a break in his work. He returned to action on Sunday, striking out a batter over a scoreless inning for Double-A San Antonio. Rodriguez, 22, struck out 32 over 34⅓ innings (2.10 ERA) to start the year in the majors.
Morgan has a 4.50 ERA over 22 innings to start the year with the Padres. He last pitched on June 27, so his move to the injured list is retroactive to Sunday.
Here is how the Cubs will line up to start a three-game series:
Today’s #Cubs lineup pic.twitter.com/Fn5xH1Fot5
— Jeff Sanders (@sdutSanders) June 29, 2026
Monday’s pitching matchup
Padres RHP Griffin Canning (1-5, 7.38 ERA)
He will start after following an opener in his last two appearances. He allowed a run in 4⅓ innings in bulk relief in a win at St. Louis on June 17 and then gave up four runs in two-thirds of an inning on Tuesday against the Braves. Opponents .846 OPS off Canning would be the worst of his career if the season ended today. Canning has faced the Cubs twice in his career (4.35 ERA, 10 ⅓ IP), last in 2025 (6 IP, 1 ER).
Here is how Canning has fared against current Cubs:
Cubs LHP Shota Imanaga (5-6, 4.40 ERA)
The 32-year-old has a 3.99 ERA over his last 236⅔ innings in the majors after posting a 2.91 ERA as an All-Star as a rookie in 2024. Only six of his 16 starts have been quality starts. Imanaga has a 1.40 ERA in three starts in his career against the Padres, including two last year (1-0, 0.73 ERA, 12⅓ IP). He has struck out 19 against four walks over 19⅓ innings.
Here is how Imanaga has fared against current Padres:
