Return of Big-Game Bob a boost for Padres

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Big-Game Bob is back.

And not a moment too soon.

Robert Suarez rejoined the Padres in Toronto on Wednesday, and was activated for Thursday's series finale against the Blue Jays. Suarez is coming off a dominant 2022 season in which he posted a 2.27 ERA and emerged as the primary setup weapon to Josh Hader during the team’s deep postseason run. He inked a five-year deal to remain in San Diego during the offseason.

And then ... Suarez’s elbow flared up in March. Tests revealed no structural damage, the team said. But the inflammation was stubborn and Suarez dealt with some early setbacks, making it difficult for him to resume throwing. As such, his absence lingered far longer than the Padres would've liked.

"The most difficult part has been not being able to be here since the beginning of the season," Suarez said in Spanish through interpreter Danny Sanchez. "But again, this is where we're at now. I'm ready to be back. Right now, I'm focused on physically being fit, maintaining my health and helping the team."

The Padres sure could use Suarez anchoring that eighth inning again.

After a solid start, the San Diego bullpen has begun to show a few cracks. It has a 5.86 July ERA -- after notching a 3.52 mark through June that ranked as the best in the National League.

It's important to remember just how integral Suarez was to this ‘pen last season. Despite the way it ended -- with Suarez allowing Bryce Harper’s pennant-winning home run -- Suarez was not only electric, but he was capable of pitching multiple innings, and he recorded some of the biggest outs down the stretch.

"You look at how things have gone and what he meant to the team last year -- the eighth and ninth were pretty locked down," manager Bob Melvin said. "You can work backwards from there. So it'll be nice to get him back."

Melvin said Suarez likely wouldn't slot directly back into the eighth inning. It sounds likelier that he'll get a soft landing or two before he returns to a setup role.

But if Suarez can regain the dominant form that made him one of the team's most valuable pitchers last October, it's hard to overstate what that could mean to these Padres. Clearly, he's antsy to return to a big league mound.

"Half the season," Suarez said. "But at least I'm back now, and that's really what matters."

Added Manny Machado: “It’s going to be huge. Having him healthy is going to be another key piece for us in the bullpen. The more the merrier.”