Myers day to day (right knee inflammation)

Padres right fielder Wil Myers is day to day after aggravating the balky right knee, which has bothered him since Spring Training, during Tuesday night's 8-4 loss to the Pirates.

Myers was pinch-hit for in the top of the fourth, just an inning after an awkward finish to a running catch in the bottom of the third.

After he made the play on a relatively routine Anthony Alford fly ball, Myers skipped, apparently favoring his right leg.

“It’s basically some inflammation in his right knee,” Padres manager Jayce Tingler said after the game. “He’s been playing through some things for maybe the last week or so. But today, as the game went on, it got worse. He came out and we figured let’s not push it.”

Myers also missed a couple games during the spring with right knee inflammation, an injury which has evidently lingered. Tingler said that Myers’ knee generally doesn’t bother him when he’s walking or sprinting, but it’ll occasionally flare up when he’s jogging -- as was certainly the case on Alford’s fly ball.

“Seeing him move around in right field tonight, you could tell it was giving him more problems than usual,” Tingler said.

Myers entered the game red-hot, fresh off a five-RBI night on Monday. In 12 games this season, Myers is batting .341 with a 1.096 OPS.

The extent of any potential injury remains unclear, but the Padres have certainly seen their share of rough luck in that department already this season. Star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. landed on the injured list last week with a partially dislocated left shoulder.

Catcher Austin Nola (fractured left finger) has yet to play a game this season, while left-hander Adrian Morejon exited Sunday's start against the Rangers with a left elbow/forearm strain (the extent of which remains unclear as well). That's not to mention a host of ailments in the Padres’ bullpen.

Despite the attrition, the Padres are off to an 8-4 start, a testament to the depth put in place by general manager A.J. Preller during the offseason. But that depth could be facing another test if Myers misses any time.

Utility man Jorge Mateo replaced Myers in right field on Tuesday night and walked in his lone plate appearance. He and Jurickson Profar would be the likeliest replacements.