The San Diego Padres’ aspirations for the World Series suffered a major setback on Friday when it was announced that right-handed pitcher Joe Musgrove will need Tommy John surgery to repair his elbow. This procedure is expected to keep him out for all of 2025 as well.

Musgrove was taken out in the fourth inning of Game 2 during the Padres’ sweep of the Atlanta Braves in the National League wild-card series. The team later revealed that he would have an MRI and on Friday, general manager A.J. Preller informed reporters at Dodger Stadium that Musgrove has incurred damage to his ulnar collateral ligament, necessitating surgery.

The Padres plan to have their ace, Dylan Cease, pitch Game 1 of the NL Division Series against the Dodgers on Saturday night, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto taking the mound for the Dodgers. Yu Darvish, who was on the restricted list for three months for personal reasons and returned in September, is likely to start Game 2 on Sunday.

Michael King, who struck out 12 in his first-ever postseason start against Atlanta, is set to pitch Game 3.

However, the Padres are now left with uncertainties beyond this starting trio due to the absence of Musgrove, who will turn 32 in December. In his second year of a five-year, $100 million contract, Musgrove only made 19 starts this season because of elbow inflammation, sidelining him for 10 weeks.

He returned on August 12 and delivered a 2.15 ERA in his last nine starts, raising hopes that he could be an effective number three pitcher in the playoffs behind Cease and King. Yet, without him, the Padres’ chances of advancing past the NLDS have become more challenging.