San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt said Tuesday that relief pitcher Yuki Matsui (back) is slated to return to game action on Wednesday in the team's Cactus League finale against the Athletics. Matsui, who was signed this off-season, has missed the last three weeks with back tightness. However, the left-hander pitched in an intrasquad game on Sunday, facing five hitters and retiring four of them. The 28-year-old figures to start the season in a high-leverage role for the Padres and could eventually see save opportunities given his track record in Japan and the five-year, $28 million deal he signed.

San Diego Padres left-hander Yuki Matsui (back) has resumed playing catch in camp on Friday. The 28-year-old reliever was shut down from throwing last weekend due to inflammation in his back, but it wasn't a serious concern and he's already back to throwing. It remains unclear when he'll be able to get into another Cactus League game after striking out the side in his impressive debut last Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Barring another setback, though, Matsui will have time to get up to speed for the two-game opening series against the Dodgers in Korea on March 20-21. After signing a five-year, $28 million deal with the Friars in December, Matsui should have a significant late-inning role in SD in his rookie season, perhaps even taking over closing duties if Robert Suarez struggles in the ninth-inning role.

San Diego Padres left-hander Yuki Matsui's (back) MRI exam showed inflammation but no structural damage in his back, according to manager Mike Shildt. Matsui is considered day-to-day. Matsui was scratched from spring training action over the weekend due to tightness in his back, but it appears the injury isn't very serious. It's unclear when the 28-year-old southpaw reliever will appear in another Cactus League game, though, after he was impressive in striking out the side in his inning of work in the spring training opener last Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. If Matsui is anywhere close to as dominant this year as he was in his Cactus League opener, he'll be in the mix for saves in San Diego in his first year in the big leagues.

San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt said Tuesday that newly signed relief pitcher Yuki Matsui will make his Cactus League debut in Thursday's opening game against the Dodgers. The 27-year-old lefty signed a four-year, $21 million contract this off-season after spending the past decade pitching for the Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan. Matsui was a successful closer, but the Padres also signed KBO reliever Woo-Suk Go and have Robert Suarez as the incumbent for the closer's role. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye and ear out in the Padres' camp as things progress.