標籤: Padres

Starting Monday night, one of the best rivalries in Major League Baseball returns. The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres will face off at Petco Park for a three-game set. The teams have dueled for first place in the National League West for most of the year. Both teams won on Sunday, giving the Dodgers a half-game lead over San Diego. One of them will leave the series alone atop the NL West, but who has the edge?

on the mound

• Monday: Michael King (SD) vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD)
• Tuesday: Griffin Canning (SD) vs. Emmett Sheehan (LAD)
• Wednesday: Randy Vasquez (SD) vs. Shohei Ohtani (LAD)

Monday’s game proves to be the most viable pitchers duel of the three, with King and Yamamoto facing off in a battle of the aces. The former has boasted a 2.63 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in his first nine starts. King has been a reliable player for San Diego. Yamamoto, on the other hand, has looked a little rough lately (which is hard to say for a pitcher with a 3.60 ERA). He has scored 11 runs in his last three matches. Yamamoto and the Dodgers will be hoping to bounce back in tonight’s series opener.

Canning and Sheehan both had breakout 2025 campaigns, posting respective ERAs of 3.77 (16 starts) and 2.82 (12 starts). He has not been that good this year with scores of 10.64 and 4.54. Canning’s sample size is very small across three sports. His debut was very good (1 ER, 5.0 IP) but he has been bad since then (12 ER, 6.0 IP). To win the second game, they will have to survive Los Angeles’ strong lineup.

Ohtani has been the best starting pitcher in all of MLB. He boasts a 0.82 ERA in 44 innings. This means he will not be in the lineup for Los Angeles. Vasquez hasn’t been as good, but still has a career-best 2.68 ERA. San Diego hopes to have the two face off in a pitchers duel. Vasquez will have to hold his own against the Dodgers’ lineup if the Friars are to win.

starting lineup

Both the lineups have struggled to score runs recently. Both lineups broke into one Big Way this weekend. The Dodgers defeated the Los Angeles Angels 31–3, while San Diego defeated the Seattle Mariners 17–7. This was a huge success for two clubs who have been weak offensively over the past few weeks.

This should (hopefully) turn out to be a high-scoring series in the pitcher-friendly environment of Petco Park. The Padres won the last series at Petco Park, although the Friars were defeated by Los Angeles, 10–9.

player to watch

Recently there have been some heated clashes between the two sides. They will hope to continue that streak of success in this week’s series against their division rivals. Here are some things to look for on each side:

Gavin Sheets

Sheets has had a remarkable stretch with the Padres. He hit 19 home runs in 2025 and found his stride after a mostly average season with the Chicago White Sox. He leads the Friars with nine homers (four of which have come in his last five games!), and is on pace for 35 home runs. Although it is high, he could easily complete 20 passes for the first time in his young career.

miguel andujar

Andujar was signed at the end of the offseason for just $3 million, which will serve as platoon and valuable bench depth at the designated hitter spot. That’s too much. The Padres’ best hitter is slashing .291/.313/.480 entering Monday’s game. He has four RBI in his last seven games and has provided several big opportunities for San Diego.

shohei ohtani

Just because he’s only hitting in two out of three games doesn’t mean he can’t perform well. Although Ohtani has been one of the best starters in the league, he has been below average at the plate. That changed in a big way against Anaheim, with Ohtani going 6 for 13 with three walks over the weekend. If he can keep this up, it would be a big boost for the series and the LA season.

teoscar hernandez

Hernandez had a similarly hot weekend after an all-time low in the season. He went 4 for 12 with a walk, a home run and five RBI in the three-game series. He remains a legitimate power threat at the plate but has actually batted more for average recently. Over his last seven games he has batted .407. This might seem like another hot streak, but he’s also batting .327 in his last 15 games. This reads more as quality contact than a random bounce.

call to the bullpen

The Dodgers (somewhat surprisingly) have a better bullpen ERA than the Padres. He has a 3.06 ERA compared to San Diego’s 3.81 mark. That being said, the Friars have had to cover far more innings (205.1) than Los Angeles (144.1). And ERA isn’t a particularly good indicator of who is better, but it is a helpful benchmark for run prevention.

The Padres have an array of high-leverage relievers, headlined by closers Mason Miller, Jason Adam, Jeremiah Estrada, Adrian Morezon and rookie flamethrower Bradgley Rodriguez. Those guys got plenty of comfort this weekend when San Diego’s starters managed to cover 16 innings against Seattle. If the Dodgers hope to win the game they will need to build a lead with the Friars starter out.

Although newcomer Edwin Diaz won’t be pitching for Los Angeles in the near future, Tanner Scott has surprisingly filled the closer’s role quite well. Scott boasts a 1.47 ERA after a disappointing 2025 season. Behind him are Will Klein and Alex Vessia. Klein has solidified himself as a key reliever in his second season with LA veteran Blake Treinen, struggling but still owning a serviceable 3.68 ERA. Other than those four, the Dodgers are short on depth, but not as bad at leaving late games as the 2025 group.

Many of the San Diego Padres’ top prospects have been traded in recent years, draining their farm system. Now it has suffered another blow after the alleged relegation of one of the top branches of the club in the smaller leagues.

Alex Riggins’s San Diego Union-Tribune Minor-league pitcher Humberto Cruz has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge related to transporting a man to the United States and it is a “virtual certainty” he will be deported, reports say.

READ MORE: MLB Power Rankings Week 6, see where the Padres are placed

Cruz, who is 19, is widely considered one of the Padres’ top prospects in 2026. MLB Pipeline ranks the 6-foot-1 standout as the fifth-best player in San Diego’s farm system. FanGraphs noted that Cruz was “one of the best arms” with an ACL tear last summer, and he had a good chance to develop into a mid-rotation starter for the club.

In 2024, the Padres signed Cruz and he received a $750,000 signing bonus as part of the deal. He was part of the club’s run in international free agency, headlined by Leo De Vries, who was traded to the Sacramento Athletics for All-Star closer Mason Miller last summer.

Cruz had not pitched yet this season after undergoing elbow surgery in August and undergoing an internal brace procedure to repair a UCL tear in his pitching arm. The recovery timeline caused him to miss the entire 2026 MiLB season.

Details on Humberto Cruz’s guilty plea, expected deportation

Cruz pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of receiving money in exchange for the transportation of noncitizen immigrants within the United States, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

As a non-U.S. citizen who worked in the country under a visa as part of the Padres organization, Cruz is expected to be deported. Before the guilty plea, the team had placed him on the restricted list.

According to the report, the Padres understand that Cruz will not be allowed a work visa to the United States for the next 10 years. However, he or she will have the opportunity to apply again after five years.

On October 28, in Arizona near the US-Mexico border, Border Patrol agents reportedly saw an SUV headed toward the border with only one person inside. Shortly afterwards, it was seen returning with two additional passengers.

When captured, Cruz told agents that he knew the people in his car had no documents and that he was told he would be paid $1,000 to transport each person.

If the five-year timeline is held, Cruz will be 24 when he is eligible to return to the United States for the first time. Given the long layoff from pitching in organized baseball, it is likely that his time with an MLB club has come to an end.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

The San Diego Padres went from spending like crazy under owner Peter Seidler to continually cutting payroll following his demise. With the team finalizing a record-breaking sale, it appears the new leadership will take things back in the other direction.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, “Early speculation around baseball is that newly minted owner Jose E. Feliciano “will be in it to win” and could be very aggressive in improving the team. This could include getting into a bidding war for Tarik Skubal.

RELATED: MLB Power Rankings Week 4, Padres sit on top

Heyman wrote that he believed the Padres could begin to “recapture the winning strategy” that fans had fallen in love with under the late Seidler. This could play out over the winter during MLB free agency, with San Diego potentially joining the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets in the pursuit of two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal.

This would be a strategy that would certainly be music to the ears of Padres general manager AJ Preller. He has consistently been one of the most aggressive decision makers in baseball, as demonstrated last summer when he sent prospect Leo DeVries to the Athletics to acquire All-Star closer Mason Miller.

Another thing worth noting is the Padres’ long-standing interest in acquiring Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran. Although he is believed to be unavailable right now, that could change if the team is still struggling this summer. In that case, San Diego stands out as a potential trade partner.

The Padres would almost certainly have to spend more than $50 million per season to land Skubal, making him the highest-paid pitcher in baseball history. It will be interesting to see if San Diego finds ways to cut the salaries of specific players to make signing Scoble a little easier.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

The San Diego Padres have been gradually shedding salaries in recent years, but have still managed to win over 90 games in consecutive seasons and make the playoffs. While the club has gotten off to a strong start this season, it appears that President of Baseball Operations AJ Preller may not be safe.

Dennis Lynn of The Athletic wrote that Preller’s future as Padres general manager is uncertain due to the franchise currently being for sale. While he expects the top MLB executive to finish the season in San Diego, a new owner could come in and replace him at the end of the year.

“Preller’s future beyond 2026 remains uncertain. No one directly involved would confirm the terms of his recent extension, but most indications are that he is now under contract until 2028. If a billionaire owner wanted to choose his own general manager, moving on from Preller would represent a relatively small expense.

Dennis Lynn of The Athletic’s GM AJ Preller on the future of the San Diego Padres

RELATED: San Diego Padres expected to sell for historic price

Preller joined the Padres organization as general manager in August 2014, giving him the opportunity to rebuild the franchise after spending more than a decade with the Texas Rangers. With the support of then-owner Peter Seidler, San Diego spent more money on its team than ever before and emerged as a perennial contender.

It bore fruit in recent years. From 2020–25, the Padres compiled a 470–400 record in the regular season, made the playoffs four times and posted a winning record in five of the six seasons. However, since Seidler’s demise, the club has continually worked to reduce the payroll.

For groups interested in purchasing the Padres, whose money largely comes from venture capitalists and private equity, the choice may come down to prioritizing revenue over on-field results. The same has happened with the Boston Red Sox under Fenway Sports Group in recent years.

If this proves to be the case, the new ownership may decide that Preller’s way of building the team is not the most cost-effective option and instead replace him with someone who can build a more financially favorable roster that maximizes revenue. If that happens, Preller will be one of the most sought-after guys in baseball this winter.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

If anyone had predicted two years ago that Miguel Andújar would be a key member of the Padres’ offense in 2026, no one would have taken them seriously.

Yet, here is Andújar, batting fifth for the Padres as the primary DH for a team that needs an offensive boost. He has proven to be a versatile addition to the San Diego Padres lineup, which explains why the team targeted him in free agency.

READ MORE: MLB Power Rankings Week 1, see where the Padres land

The veteran journeyman was once the Yankees’ starting third baseman, finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting in 2018. He was considered a future star in New York, but injuries and slumps held him back over the next three years. He bounced from New York to Pittsburgh to Oakland, and ultimately ended up with the Reds, where he broke out in 2025 and became a key part of a surprise playoff push in Cincinnati.

In 34 games with the Reds, Andújar was worth 0.6 bWAR, hitting .359, slugging .544, and finishing with a .944 OPS. This helped him earn an $8 million deal with the Padres in free agency, the most he ever made in his nine-year MLB career.

No one in San Diego expected Andújar to match his .944 OPS with the Reds, and perhaps he would never do so again. However, he has continued to perform well. The utility man is slashing .261/.320/.391 for a .711 OPS through his first seven games. He’s getting good at-bats as the Padres’ DH, but still has the versatility to play third base or the corner outfield.

Fans are still getting used to the idea that Andújar can be a consistently good major league player. Recent evidence suggests that Andújar is a legitimate bat going forward.

comeback story

Between 2019 and 2022, Andújar was viewed as a marginal major leaguer. During those four years, he played in 114 major league games, was worth -2.0 bWAR, and had a 61 OPS+. He also played 93 minor league games in that span.

Something changed in 2023 when Andújar was in the Pirates’ minor-league system. With Triple-A Indianapolis, Andújar had a .944 OPS in 103 games, while hitting .338. He proved good enough to earn a call-up at the end of the season and a place in the Athletics in 2024.

Since being called up in 2023, here are his MLB numbers: 205 games, 1.3 bWAR, .296 average, 113 OPS+, 39 doubles, 18 home runs and 94 RBI. He’s been an above average hitter at the big league level for 205 games so far, and he’s showing no signs of slowing down.

The Padres suddenly seem to have identified Andujar as an underrated player who could provide an immediate spark to their offense, and so far, he’s been exactly that. Against former All-Stars like Xander Bogaerts, Jake Cronenworth and Nick Castellanos, he has the fifth-highest OPS ever on the team.

Andujar may not be a superstar, but he has been the middle of the lineup spark the Padres need.

Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob was recently reported to be interested in purchasing the MLB franchise San Diego Padres, leading to much speculation regarding his current stake in the NBA team. As things stand, Lacob is the owner of the most valuable franchise in the NBA, given the Warriors’ success over the past decade.

However, for Bill Simmons, Lacob’s desire to add the Padres to his portfolio could mean he will sell the Warriors.

“I’m wondering, so let’s say he wins, and he gets the Padres. Is it unimaginable to think that the next team would be available? Because I’ve asked it to people, and they were like, ‘No way, he’ll never sell the Warriors,'” Simmons initially said on The Bill Simmons Podcast.

However, Simmons believes this could lead to Lacob moving on to a new challenge.

“But right now it’s the perfect time to sell the Warriors. Because you’re at the peak of the market, there’s money coming in for expansion and then on top of that the new owner can be the new owner of that team for the next three to seven years with Steph Curry on it, no matter how long he plays. And you can just be like, you know, four titles. I couldn’t have done better than that. I built this amazing infrastructure, and now I get to take my talents to baseball. Will go,” he said. Said.

There is no doubt that the Warriors need to rebuild to emerge as a contender in the next few seasons. Stephen Curry, who started the Warriors’ championship runs, is now 37, with Draymond Green also approaching the end of his career.

Furthermore, the Padres present a unique opportunity for Lacob. The possibility of a sale of the team is being explored following the death of owner Peter Seidler and ongoing legal and financial complications surrounding the family trust that controls the organization.

Lacob has previously attempted to purchase other MLB teams, including the Athletics and Angels, and has long expressed a desire to own a baseball franchise. From a purely business standpoint, this might actually be the right time for Lacob to enter MLB, even if it means opting out of the NBA.