Padres lose All-Star reliever Jason Adam to season-ending quadriceps tear

The San Diego Padres have suffered a significant blow in the stretch run of the playoff race.

All-Star reliever Jason Adam suffered a ruptured quadriceps tendon in his left leg during Monday’s 4-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. His season is over.

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Padres manager Mike Shildt confirmed the injury to reporters after the game. A precise timeline wasn’t initially available, but Shildt expects the injury to sideline Adam anywhere from six to nine months. Adam was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Tuesday to further diagnose the injury.

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Adam, 33, has been an anchor for arguably baseball’s best bullpen. In 65 appearances, primarily in middle relief, Adam has posted a 1.93 ERA and 1.148 WHIP with 70 strikeouts and 25 walks. He was named an All-Star for the first time in July.

Can deep Padres bullpen withstand the loss?

The Padres have one of baseball’s deepest bullpens and are better equipped than most teams to weather the loss. They boast two other All-Star relievers in Robert Suárez and Adrián Morejón and bolstered their bullpen at the trade deadline with the addition of former All-Star Mason Miller from the Athletics.

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The Padres prioritized strengthening their bullpen with their eyes on making a deep postseason run. That depth will now be put to the test with 24 games remaining in the regular season.

The Padres (76-62) enter Tuesday 2.5 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the race for the NL West crown. They’re in control of the second of three NL wild-card spots and hold a six-game lead over the Cincinnati Reds (70-68), who would be the first team out of the NL playoff bracket if the postseason started Tuesday.

Adam collapsed after pitch

Adam sustained the injury while pitching in the seventh inning of Monday’s game. He collapsed on the mound after throwing a pitch to Gunnar Henderson and immediately clutched his injured leg. Trainers tended to Adam on the mound, and he eventually left the game on the back of a cart.

Shildt told reporters after the game that Adam is a “big part of our success.”

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“Guy’s an absolute workhorse and just has gotten huge outs for us,” Shildt said, per MLB.com. “But he’s also a real pillar of our clubhouse.”

Padres starter Dylan Cease also spoke about the injury.

“It’s really tough,” Cease said. “It seems like he pitches every day, and he’s been amazing. It’s terrible to see.”