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Bradgley Rodriguez Bradgley Rodriguez Working as opener Tuesday
Tue, May 12, 2026, 11:21 AM
Rodriguez will be the Padres' opening pitcher Tuesday in Milwaukee, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Analysis: Rodriguez opening up for knuckleballer Matt Waldron worked well last week against the Giants, so the Padres will try it again. The 22-year-old Rodriguez has fanned only 14 batters in 19.2 innings this season but has managed a 1.83 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. |
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Matt Waldron Matt Waldron Following opener again
Tue, May 12, 2026, 11:18 AM
Waldron is slated to serve as the Padres' primary pitcher in Tuesday's game versus the Brewers, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Analysis: Waldron struck out seven over five innings of one-run ball against the Giants after following opener Bradgley Rodriguez. The Padres will follow that same formula again in Tuesday's series opener. Waldron is not guaranteed any more starts beyond Tuesday's, as Lucas Giolito is expected to be ready to join the rotation soon after knocking off some rust in the minors. |
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Yu Darvish Yu Darvish Takes first step in rehab program
Tue, May 12, 2026, 8:49 AM
Darvish (elbow) revealed Tuesday in a social media post that he has resumed playing catch.
Analysis: Though the Padres are currently stashing Darvish on the restricted list rather than the injured list, the 39-year-old righty is slated to miss the entire 2026 season after undergoing an internal brace procedure on his pitching arm in Oct. 29. Just over six months into what will likely be a 12-to-15-month recovery process, Darvish seems to be progressing as expected, and he'll likely advance to throwing off a mound and potentially facing hitters before the end of the season. Darvish still has two years remaining on his contract after this season, but retirement could be a possibility if he doesn't feel he can compete at a high level once he completes his recovery from surgery. |
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Fernando Tatis Jr. Fernando Tatis Jr. Swipes 10th bag, remains homerless
Mon, May 11, 2026, 1:28 PM
Tatis went 0-for-3 with two walks and a stolen base in an extra-inning win over St. Louis on Sunday.
Analysis: While Tatis wasn't able to log any hits, he made an impact by taking two walks and stealing a base. The theft was his 10th this season, ninth-most in MLB. Beyond that, however, Tatis has largely disappointed fantasy managers so far, primarily because he's yet to go deep through 39 games. That's contributed to Tatis logging just 15 RBI and 14 runs while posting a meager .611 OPS. On the bright side, Tatis has made nine appearances at second base, and he'll gain significant value as a fantasy asset when/if he becomes eligible at the keystone (depending on league settings). |
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Lucas Giolito Lucas Giolito Looks ready to join big club
Mon, May 11, 2026, 12:05 PM
Giolito struck out three batters and allowed one earned run on three hits and no walks over six innings in a start Sunday for Double-A San Antonio.
Analysis: Making his fourth appearance in the minors since signing a one-year deal with San Diego on April 22, Giolito delivered his best performance yet. He displayed pinpoint control in the start, pumping in 52 of his 74 pitches for strikes while not walking a batter or throwing a wild pitch for the first time during his rehab assignment. The Padres haven't decided on Giolito's next steps, but based on both the form he showed and the workload he handled Sunday, the right-hander appears ready to make his 2026 MLB debut for his next appearance. He could join the Padres in Seattle to make a start during the club's three-game series versus the Mariners this coming weekend. |
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Jhony Brito Jhony Brito Opens rehab assignment in ACL
Mon, May 11, 2026, 11:33 AM
Brito (forearm) struck out seven and allowed one earned run on two hits and one walk across three innings Thursday in a rehab start in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League.
Analysis: Just over 13 months after undergoing UCL internal brace surgery as well as a flexor tendon repair operation, Brito has reached the final step in his lengthy recovery process. Despite his strong showing in his first rehab outing in Arizona, Brito is likely to be kept on assignment for the entirety of his allotted 30-day window, as he'll require multiple starts to build his pitch count and hone his command and control coming off surgery. Though the Padres are letting Brito get stretched out for a rotation role, he has a minor-league option remaining and could be sent to Triple-A El Paso rather than joining the big club once he's activated from the 60-day injured list. |
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Will Wagner Will Wagner Activated and optioned
Mon, May 11, 2026, 11:25 AM
The Padres reinstated Wagner (oblique) from the 10-day injured list Thursday and optioned him to Triple-A El Paso.
Analysis: Wagner opened the season on the shelf after he strained his right oblique at the beginning of March. After a prolonged shutdown, Wagner was cleared to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A to kick off May, and since the Padres didn't have room for him on their big-league bench, he'll end up sticking around at El Paso on a longer-term basis. Through his first seven games at Triple-A, Wagner has slashed .300/.548/.350 with two stolen bases and a 9:6 BB:K over 31 plate appearances. |
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Ramon Laureano Ramon Laureano Idle Sunday
Sun, May 10, 2026, 2:41 PM
Laureano is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.
Analysis: Laureano will hit the bench for the second time in less than a week after getting off to a poor start to May with a .083/.241/.208 slash line through the Padres' first nine games of the month. Gavin Sheets will replace Laureano in left field and will bat cleanup. |
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Freddy Fermin Freddy Fermin Receiving break Sunday
Sun, May 10, 2026, 2:38 PM
Fermin is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.
Analysis: The Padres will give Fermin the afternoon off after he started behind the plate in the first two games of the series. Rodolfo Duran will catch for starting pitcher Walker Buehler in the final game against St. Louis. |
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Lucas Giolito Lucas Giolito Covers four frames in MiLB start
Sat, May 9, 2026, 9:37 AM
Giolito covered four innings Tuesday in a start for Double-A San Antonio, yielding five runs (three earned) on eight hits and two walks while striking out two batters.
Analysis: Making his third start in the minors after signing a one-year deal with the Padres on April 22, Giolito was able to push up his pitch count to 78. Between Tuesday's start and his previous two appearances with Single-A Lake Elsinore, Giolito has posted a 6.55 ERA, 1.91 WHIP and 12:6 K:BB over 11 innings. The 31-year-old righty will need to be added to the Padres' 26-man active roster by May 16, so he could be in line for one more tune-up outing in the minors before entering the San Diego rotation. |
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Griffin Canning Griffin Canning Drawing another start
Fri, May 8, 2026, 9:46 AM
Canning is slated to start Friday's game against the Cardinals in San Diego.
Analysis: Canning will be awarded another turn through the rotation after a sharp showing in his team and season debut last Sunday. Making his first MLB appearance since June 26, 2025 with the Mets, Canning struck out seven and yielded one earned run on three hits and three walks over five innings in a no-decision against the White Sox. The Padres' rotation will get additional reinforcements next week with Lucas Giolito likely to be called up from the minors, but another steady performance Friday should put Canning in good position to maintain his spot over Walker Buehler (5.64 ERA in 30.1 innings) or Matt Waldron (7.71 ERA in 18.2 innings). |
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Joe Musgrove Joe Musgrove Moved to 60-day IL
Thu, May 7, 2026, 5:59 PM
The Padres transferred Musgrove (elbow) to the 60-day injured list on Thursday.
Analysis: The Padres added Luis Campusano to the 10-day injured list and selected Rodolfo Duran from Triple-A El Paso on Thursday as part of a corresponding move. Musgrove has been progressing slowing in his attempt to return from Tommy John surgery he had had in late 2024. |
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Freddy Fermin Freddy Fermin Taking seat Thursday
Thu, May 7, 2026, 5:57 PM
Fermin isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cardinals.
Analysis: Fermin will step out of the lineup Thursday to allow Rodolfo Duran to make his MLB debut starting at catcher and batting ninth. |
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Luis Campusano Luis Campusano Has fractured toe
Thu, May 7, 2026, 5:49 PM
The Padres placed Campusano on the 10-day injured list Thursday due to a left toe fracture.
Analysis: It has yet to revealed how Campusano fractured his left toe. He had been hitting the ball well to begin the season, but was losing playing time to the better defender in Freddy Fermin. Fermin will likely continue to get more starts with Campusano on the injured list and Rodolfo Duran, who was selected from Triple-A El Paso on Thursday, serving as the backup catcher. |
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Joining big club
Thu, May 7, 2026, 5:39 PM
The Padres selected Duran from Triple-A El Paso on Thursday.
Analysis: The Padres are bringing up Duran as Luis Campusano hits the 10-day injured list with a left toe fracture and Joe Musgrove (elbow) is transferred to the 60-day injured list. Duran has slashed .238/.356/.429 with Tripe-A El Paso in 2026. The 28-year old is in the lineup versus the Cardinals Thursday night, marking his MLB debut. |
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Matt Waldron Matt Waldron Excels behind opener
Thu, May 7, 2026, 12:05 PM
Waldron (1-1) earned the win Wednesday over San Francisco, allowing a run on two hits and no walks over five innings. He struck out seven.
Analysis: After struggling to a 9.88 ERA over his first three starts this year, the Padres elected to use an opener ahead of Waldron on Wednesday. The move paid immediate dividends, as Waldron was nearly untouchable in the San Diego victory -- the Giants' lone run came on a Rafael Devers solo homer in the fifth. Despite Wednesday's performance, it remains to be seen what Waldron's role will be going forward, as Lucas Giolito is expected to join the rotation soon. |
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Xander Bogaerts Xander Bogaerts Resting up Wednesday
Wed, May 6, 2026, 12:33 PM
Bogaerts is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Giants.
Analysis: Bogaerts had started every game dating back to April 12, so manager Craig Stammen likely viewed Wednesday's afternoon contest as an opportune time to give the veteran infielder a breather. With Bogaerts on the bench, Fernando Tatis will cover second base and Sung-Mun Song will start at shortstop. |
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Freddy Fermin Freddy Fermin Taking back control of catcher job
Wed, May 6, 2026, 12:30 PM
Fermin will start at catcher and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Giants.
Analysis: Though Luis Campusano boasts an OPS that's 447 points higher than Fermin's season mark of .511, the latter's defensive acumen appears to be enough to keep him atop the depth chart for now. Fermin will stick in the starting nine Wednesday for the fourth time in six games. |
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Luis Campusano Luis Campusano Losing out on starts to Fermin
Wed, May 6, 2026, 12:25 PM
Campusano is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Giants.
Analysis: The playing time at catcher appears to have tilted back in favor of Freddy Fermin, who will draw his fourth start in six games while Campusano is relegated to the bench. Fermin is regarded as the superior defender of the two, but Campusano has been far more productive at the dish with a .958 OPS in 58 plate appearances. |
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Matt Waldron Matt Waldron Set to work behind opener Wednesday
Wed, May 6, 2026, 11:38 AM
Waldron is expected to pitch behind opening pitcher Bradgley Rodriguez in Wednesday's game against the Giants, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Waldron has started in each of his first three appearances of the season with the Padres but has found little success, pitching to a 9.88 ERA, 1.88 WHIP and 8:5 K:BB in 13.2 innings. By turning to Rodriguez to cover the first inning or two of Wednesday's contest, the Padres are hopeful that Waldron will turn in improved results, since he'll be spared from facing the top of the San Francisco lineup once he enters the game. Even if Waldron fares better in the bulk-relief role, he could be at risk of a more permanent move to the bullpen -- or being designated for assignment -- in the near future. Lucas Giolito is close to being ready to join the big-league rotation after building up to four innings and 78 pitches Tuesday in his latest minor-league rehab start. |
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