The San Diego Padres are faced with a challenging decision concerning their starting rotation in the near future.
The Friars kicked off the season with a five-man rotation, including Nick Pivetta, Michael King, Randy Vásquez, Walker Buehler, and Germán Marquez. Joe Musgrove was expected to be part of the mix, but he started the season on the injured list due to a setback in his recovery from Tommy John surgery.
Musgrove isn’t the only starter hoping to return soon; Matt Waldron and Griffin Canning are also on their way back from the IL. Waldron is close, adding to the Padres’ dilemma.
The right-hander is making a strong case for the Padres to find a spot for him on the roster. He pitched four shutout innings with six strikeouts during his second rehab start with Triple-A El Paso, having thrown three shutout innings in his first.
Waldron underwent surgery this spring, aiming to reclaim his spot in the back-end of the rotation. Currently, those slots are held by veterans Buehler and Márquez, but that could shift if San Diego decides to release one of them to clear a space for Waldron.
Buehler gave up three earned runs along with three strikeouts in his season debut. Marquez allowed four earned runs with only one strikeout in his first outing. With neither veteran performing particularly well, the team is hesitant to make any drastic moves this early.
However, neither player has any options available, meaning they would need to be designated for assignment and passed through waivers with the hope that no team claims them.
Should the Padres Transition to a Six-Man Rotation?
One potential solution for the Padres is to shift to a six-man rotation temporarily. This could also benefit the team’s main starters, Pivetta and King.
King is recovering from an injury-plagued 2025 season, making an extra day of rest potentially advantageous. The same applies to Pivetta, who was limited by arm fatigue this spring.
It’s worth noting that the Padres had not planned for a six-man rotation at the start of the season, but that outlook may change based on current circumstances.
“I think discussions about a five- or six-man rotation have been more prevalent outside our organization because right now we’re focused on getting these players their innings,” pitching coach Ruben Niebla stated during camp. “All our guys are on a five-day schedule, and we’ll let competition run its course before making any decisions.”
The Padres might also consider outrighting Waldron and hoping he clears waivers, though that action comes with the risk of another team claiming him.
The starting rotation depth appeared weak at the start of the 2026 season, but with injured starters like Waldron, Musgrove, and Canning set to return, the team must decide on their best five (or six) starters.
Pivetta has already made a comeback following his first challenging outing of the season, throwing five shutout innings with eight strikeouts against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday. Perhaps Buehler and Márquez will also rebound in their next starts.
Subscribe to our free newsletter and follow us on Facebook and X/Twitter for the latest updates.
