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Griffin Canning Griffin Canning Struggles continue in bulk role
Thu, Jul 23, 2026, 2:55 PM
Canning (1-9) took the loss Thursday against Atlanta, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits across 2.2 innings. He struck out four.
Analysis: The Padres elected to use an opener ahead of Canning on Thursday, but it didn't seem to help the right-hander. Canning gave up three homers in the loss -- two solo shots before Dominic Smith added a three-run blast in the fourth. Canning has now taken the loss in four consecutive outings while allowing eight earned runs across just 6.1 innings in his last two appearances. His ERA is up to 6.97 across 62 innings this season with a 1.63 WHIP and 63:32 K:BB. |
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Luis Campusano Luis Campusano Exiting starting nine
Thu, Jul 23, 2026, 9:10 AM
Campusano is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest in Atlanta.
Analysis: Campusano started behind the dish each of the last two days, so he'll get a break during Thursday's matinee. Freddy Fermin will do the catching and bat seventh for the Padres. |
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Jackson Merrill Jackson Merrill Not starting versus Sale
Thu, Jul 23, 2026, 9:08 AM
Merrill is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game in Atlanta.
Analysis: Southpaw ace Chris Sale is on the bump for Atlanta, so the left-handed-hitting Merrill will begin the contest on the bench. Jase Bowen will grab a start in center field in the series finale. |
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Griffin Canning Griffin Canning Following opener Thursday
Thu, Jul 23, 2026, 8:16 AM
Canning will be used as a bulk reliever behind opening pitcher Kyle Hart for Thursday's contest in Atlanta, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Analysis: The Atlanta lineup features three left-handers in its top four spots (Drake Baldwin, Matt Olson and Michael Harris), so San Diego will have the left-handed Hart cover the first inning or two before the right-handed Canning takes over. Righties have posted a .628 OPS against Canning this season, while lefties have pummeled him for a .939 OPS. |
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Kyle Hart Kyle Hart Opening Thursday's game
Thu, Jul 23, 2026, 8:09 AM
Hart will serve as the Padres' opening pitcher for Thursday's game in Atlanta.
Analysis: Hart -- who has an ugly 10.80 ERA in six appearances this month -- will handle the first inning or two for the Padres before turning things over to Griffin Canning. The lefty has had one other opener assignment this season, giving up one run in two frames on June 27 versus the Dodgers. |
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Michael King Michael King Settles in after shaky first inning
Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 9:48 PM
King took a no-decision Wednesday against Atlanta, allowing one run on five hits and four walks in six innings. He struck out seven.
Analysis: The Atlanta bats brought a run across during the first inning, but King effectively shut them down the rest of the way. The seven punchouts were the right-hander's most since his May 18 start versus the Dodgers, and he's now fired at least five innings while yielding two runs or fewer in five of his past six outings. King will next carry a strong 3.24 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 103:49 K:BB over 119.1 innings into what shapes up as a soft home draw against the last-place Rockies. |
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Lucas Giolito Lucas Giolito Could throw to hitters soon
Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 4:57 PM
Giolito (elbow) has been throwing at San Diego's team complex in Arizona and may be close to facing hitters, MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Giolito has been sidelined for the past month due to right elbow inflammation. The veteran hurler resumed throwing in late June and has progressed enough to potentially toss a live session soon. Giolito will likely need a minor-league rehab assignment before he's ready to return to the Padres, so it seems unlikely that he'll be back with the big club before the turn of August. |
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Gavin Sheets Gavin Sheets Taking seat against lefty
Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 3:35 PM
Sheets is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game in Atlanta.
Analysis: The left-handed-hitting Sheets will hit the bench while Atlanta sends southpaw Martin Perez to the bump. Jase Bowen will spell Sheets in left field and will bat ninth. |
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Luis Campusano Luis Campusano Playing time trending up
Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 3:18 PM
Campusano will start at catcher and bat sixth in Wednesday's game versus Atlanta.
Analysis: It's the second straight start and fourth start in six contests coming out of the All-Star break for Campusano, who might be emerging as the preferred option at catcher for the Padres. Campusano has put up an .865 OPS in 12 games this month since coming off the injured list. |
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Freddy Fermin Freddy Fermin Getting passed over by Campusano
Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 3:09 PM
Fermin is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game in Atlanta.
Analysis: Fermin started the first game of the series at catcher, but it's been Luis Campusano behind the dish the last two days. With just two starts to Campusano's four since he returned from the injured list, Fermin looks to have been passed on the Padres' catching depth chart. |
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Jeremiah Estrada Jeremiah Estrada On rehab assignment
Wed, Jul 22, 2026, 8:35 AM
Estrada (knee) moved his rehab assignment up to Triple-A El Paso, walking two and allowing one hit over one-third of an inning in an appearance Tuesday.
Analysis: Working his way back from right knee inflammation, Estrada began a rehab assignment last week in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League. He's been shelved since early June, so Estrada could be asked to make another rehab appearance or two before being reinstated to the Padres' active roster. |
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Walker Buehler Walker Buehler Battles control issues in win
Tue, Jul 21, 2026, 10:41 PM
Buehler (6-5) earned the win against Atlanta on Tuesday, allowing two runs on two hits and five walks with three strikeouts over 5.2 innings.
Analysis: Buehler allowed two runs in the second inning but otherwise kept Atlanta in check despite issuing a season-high five walks. It was a much-needed effort from the 31-year-old, who entered Tuesday having surrendered 20 earned runs over his first three July outings. He'll carry a 5.23 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 84:40 K:BB across 94.2 innings this season into a road matchup with the Marlins this weekend. |
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Jackson Merrill Jackson Merrill Homers in win
Tue, Jul 21, 2026, 10:29 PM
Merrill went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Tuesday's 8-3 win over Atlanta.
Analysis: Merrill tied things up in the fourth inning with a solo blast off Reynaldo Lopez. It's been feast or famine for the 23-year-old through five games since returning from the All-Star break, as he's posted three hitless efforts while tallying six hits and three homers in his other two performances. For the season, he's slashing .222/.278/.368 with 13 homers, 43 RBI, 46 runs scored and 20 steals across 416 plate appearances. |
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Fernando Tatis Jr. Fernando Tatis Jr. Power surge continues in win
Tue, Jul 21, 2026, 10:20 PM
Tatis went 3-for-5 with a home run, a double, three RBI and an additional run scored in Tuesday's 8-3 win over Atlanta.
Analysis: Tatis fell a triple shy of the cycle, highlighted by a two-run blast in the eighth inning. Through five games to open the second half, the superstar has tallied three multi-hit efforts with three home runs and nine RBI. For the year, he's slashing .286/.349/.403 with eight homers, 44 RBI, 51 runs scored and 25 steals across 439 plate appearances. |
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Manny Machado Manny Machado Homers twice in win
Tue, Jul 21, 2026, 10:07 PM
Machado went 2-for-5 with two solo home runs in Tuesday's 8-3 win over Atlanta.
Analysis: Machado homered off Reynaldo Lopez in the fifth inning and then JR Ritchie in the sixth. The 34-year-old went 0-for-9 in his first three games back from the All-Star break but looks to be heating up again, going deep three times during consecutive two-hit efforts. For the year, he's slashing .204/.294/.433 with 22 homers, 59 RBI, 50 runs scored and two steals across 413 plate appearances. |
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Embarks on rehab assignment
Tue, Jul 21, 2026, 12:50 PM
Single-A Lake Elsinore sent Harvey (finger) on a rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League on July 16.
Analysis: Per J.J. Cooper of Baseball America, Harvey missed a month early this year with a hamstring injury and made it back May 12, only to break a finger on his left hand 10 days later when he was hit by a backswing while catching. In 24 games this season including rehab assignments, the 19-year-old catcher is hitting .338/.432/.486 with one home run, five steals and a 25 percent strikeout rate. |
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Ty France Ty France Continues red-hot stretch
Tue, Jul 21, 2026, 11:41 AM
France went 2-for-4 with a solo home run Monday in a loss to Atlanta.
Analysis: France launched a 397-foot shot to left-center field in the seventh inning to extend one of the best stretches of his career at the plate. Over his past eight games, the veteran slugger is slashing a sizzling .464/.500/1.107 with five long balls, three doubles, 10 RBI, eight runs and a 2:3 BB:K. That's pushed France's season OPS to .887 -- on pace for the best mark of his career -- and has catapulted him to second place on the Padres with 15 homers on the campaign. |
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Manny Machado Manny Machado Pops homer No. 20
Tue, Jul 21, 2026, 11:28 AM
Machado went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in a loss to Atlanta on Monday.
Analysis: Machado kicked off the scoring in the contest with a 402-foot solo shot to center field. That was his 20th long ball of the season, giving the veteran third baseman 11 consecutive campaigns -- excluding the pandemic-shortened 2020 season -- with 20-plus homers. While Machado's .708 OPS so far in 2026 is still on pace for a career-worst mark, he's been substantially better over the past month, posting a 1.016 OPS with eight home runs, 21 RBI and an 18:20 BB:K over his past 25 games. |
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JP Sears JP Sears Stumbles late in third loss
Mon, Jul 20, 2026, 9:47 PM
Sears (2-3) took the loss Monday against Atlanta, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and no walks in five innings. He struck out three.
Analysis: Sears was cruising along until Atlanta's two-run fifth inning, though one went unearned due to catcher interference by Freddy Fermin. It was still one of Sears' better outings this year, as the 30-year-old southpaw worked at least five innings while yielding one earned run or zero for the second time through five appearances. Sears is set to wrap up a two-start week this weekend in Miami, where he'll bring a 4.38 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 20:8 K:BB over 24.2 innings. |
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Nick Pivetta Nick Pivetta Facing hitters this week
Mon, Jul 20, 2026, 5:40 PM
Pivetta (forearm) will throw a live batting practice session this week, Annie Heilbrunn of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Analysis: It's a big step for Pivetta, who will face hitters for the first time since going down with a right flexor strain in mid-April. The veteran right-hander could be ready for rehab assignment if his live BP goes well, but he will require several rehab starts to get built back up before rejoining the Padres' rotation. |
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