Padres manager Craig Stammen said that Musgrove (elbow, back) will throw a bullpen session this weekend before likely making a final minor-league rehab start during the upcoming week, 97.3 The Fan San Diego reports.
Musgrove most recently made his third rehab start Aug. 14 with Triple-A El Paso, striking out five while allowing five earned runs on nine hits and one walk. Though Musgrove built up to 70 pitches in that outing and looked like he might have been ready to return from the 60-day injured list at some point this week to make his 2026 Padres debut, Stammen revealed that the right-hander "had a little back issue pop up" during a recent workout. Fortunately for Musgrove, the back issue isn't viewed as a major concern, and he hasn't incurred any setbacks with his surgically repaired elbow since beginning his rehab assignment Aug. 4. Assuming his back responds well to the bullpen session, Musgrove should be in line for a sizable workload in his upcoming minor-league appearance before joining the San Diego rotation immediately thereafter for what would be his first big-league outing since Sept. 26, 2024.