Joe Musgrove inched closer to returning to the Padres.

The rehabbing right-hander struck out three over five-plus efficient innings for Triple-A El Paso in his fourth rehab start on Thursday at Oklahoma City.

Musgrove threw 42 of his 60 pitches for strikes, scattering a run and five hits without a walk before left-hander JP Sears was asked to strand one of his runners at second base in the sixth inning.

The 33-year-old right-hander had been scheduled to start last weekend for El Paso, but he tweaked his back in his pre-start work and was pushed back until Thursday. He previously made rehab starts at low Single-A Lake Elsinore on Aug. 4 (2⅔ IP, 1 ER) and for El Paso on Aug. 9 (3⅓ IP, 1 ER) and Aug. 14 (4⅔ IP, 5 ER).

Musgrove touched 97 mph in the Aug. 14 start at El Paso. He last hit that on a radar gun in the majors in 2017.

Working with top catching prospect Ethan Salas on Thursday, Musgrove largely sat 93-95 mph with his four-seamer. He spun five shutout innings before Oklahoma City, the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate, chased him in the sixth inning via a single and a double from Alex Freeland.

Freeland went 2-for-3 off Musgrove and Miller had two hits. Meantime, rehabbing catcher Will Smith went 0-for-2 with a strikeout and Hyeseong Kim went 1-for-2 off the Padres’ rehabbing pitcher.

If his next start comes on four days rest, Musgrove could return to the big-league rotation as soon as Sept. 1, when rosters expand from 26 to 28. If the Padres want him to make one more rehab start — Musgrove said this week the team wanted him to get to six innings and 85 pitches — his rehab assignment would have to be renewed on Sept. 2.

The Padres will be finishing a series at Great American Ball Park next week (Aug. 31-Sept. 2), are off Sept. 3 and will host the Yankees (Sept. 4-6) to start the next homestand. The Nationals, which may be the softest landing spot for his return, visit Petco Park Sept. 7-9.

Musgrove last started in the majors in October 2024 in the NL Wild Card Series against the Atlanta Braves. He exited that game with an elbow injury that ultimately required Tommy John surgery, wiping out all of last season and most of the 2026 campaign.

 

Thursday’s scoreboard

TRIPLE-A EL PASO (53-76)

Chihuahuas 5, Oklahoma City 4: LHP JP Sears (8.11 ERA) followed Musgrove (1-1, 4.85 ERA) into the game and struck out two over three shutout innings. RHP Alek Jacob (4.89 ERA) recorded the final two outs for his ninth save. 1B Marcos Castañon (.799 OPS) drove in two runs on three hits, including his 16th homer and 17th double. Salas (.956 OPS) went 3-for-4 with a triple, an RBI, a walk and a run scored.

 

DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (54-69)

Springfield 7, Missions 2: RHP Victor Lizarraga (3-9, 6.99 ERA) allowed five runs on seven hits, two walks and a hit batter in the loss. LF Tirso Ornelas (.751 OPS) went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI, a walk and a run scored. 1B Romeo Sanabria (.789 OPS) went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

 

HIGH SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (50-71)

Dayton 9, TinCaps 3 (10): 3B Kerrington Cross (.730 OPS) went 2-for-5 with his fifth homer. DH Lamar King Jr. (.636 OPS) drove in two runs on two hits, including a double. He also walked. RHP Matthew Watson (5.86 ERA) allowed three runs in three innings in the start. Before the game, OF Ryan Wideman hit the injured list right groin discomfort.

 

LOW-SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (61-62)

Rancho Cucamonga 3, Storm 2: LHP Lan-Hong Su (5.93 ERA) struck out seven and scattered two hits and a walk over three shutout innings. LHP Zack Qin (1-2, 6.08 ERA) allowed three runs in 1⅔ innings in the loss. Recent 16th-round RHP Albert Roblez (0.00 ERA) struck out three and walked three over two scoreless innings. 3B Joe Tiroly (.807 OPS) hit his third homer.

 

ROOKIE DSL FINALS

Reds 9, Padres 5: C Dayquer Alfonzo went 1-for-5 with four RBIs. DH Sebastian Nadales homered and walked. CF Endy Rios went 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored. LHP Carlos Alvarez struck out six and allowed three runs — two earned — on one hit, four walks and three hit batters in the loss. The Padres are trying to win a best-of-three series to become the first team to win back-to-back Dominican Summer League titles since the Texas Rangers in 2013-14.