The San Diego Padres have only three games remaining in what has been an unbelievable season. Rookie manager Craig Stammen has plenty of work ahead after securing a Wild Card berth.
Several players are fighting for postseason roster security. They all have a legitimate opportunity to make a strong impression in the last series of 2026.
Which Padres have the most to gain? Because cuts are coming.
Casey Mize
Since the trade deadline, the Friars have given Casey Mize every opportunity to secure the No. 3 position
in the starting rotation. But his brief time in San Diego has been disappointing.
In nine starts, Mize has a 6.64 ERA and a 1.623 WHIP over 40.2 innings pitched. Yes, we have seen glimpses of greatness, most notably when Mize threw six shutout innings against the Cleveland Guardians in August. His struggles with the long ball have been a problem, as Mize has given up 10 home runs in the Brown & Gold.
The organization will discuss how many starting pitchers are needed on the Wild Card roster. In his final start, Mize must prove he can back up Michael King, Robbie Ray, and Walker Buehler if a postseason emergency arises.
He must let his pitching repertoire be his best defense. If Mize finishes the season with a strong outing, he has made a case for postseason roster consideration.
Samad Taylor
In June, the Padres needed a boost to their lethargic offense. The team promoted minor-league journeyman Samad Taylor, and he made an immediate impact with speed and timely hitting.
Taylor is not a liability at the plate. He is hitting .324 with a .821 OPS over 168 plate appearances. The one concern is his strikeout rate (25.0%), which is higher than the major league average (22.4%). However, he puts the ball in play, and if Taylor continues to produce, the Corona native has a strong chance of making the Wild Card roster.
His legs will be a major weapon in the postseason. With game-changing speed, Taylor will exploit pitchers who forget about him at first base. He has 10 stolen bases in 13 attempts. Taylor will be called upon as a pinch-runner to steal a base in close playoff games.
Let’s not forget that he is an above-average fielder at multiple positions. Taylor can play all three outfield positions and has spent some time at both middle infield positions. In fact, he has made several outstanding defensive plays in his limited time with San Diego.
Whenever he is in the lineup, Taylor showcases his talents by getting on base and stealing a base.
Speed is a valuable weapon in October.
David Morgan
David Morgan is not exactly having a stellar 2026 season. He has a 4.11 ERA in 29 appearances. However, Morgan has been lights-out since Sept. 9.
The Good Captain has allowed one earned run over 6.0 innings, striking out seven. The right-hander’s four-seam fastball has been devastating of late; Morgan has regained velocity (97 MPH) since his recent call-up. And let’s not forget that his curveball has added more than two inches of vertical movement heading to the plate.
Morgan is under consideration to work out of the bullpen in the Wild Card round. He may need a strong finish to the season. If Morgan can show that he is a multi-inning reliever, it gives Stammen another option out of the pen.
Jase Bowen
The Friars have an abundance of outfielders on the 40-man roster. The everyday lineup is set: Fernando Tatis Jr. patrols right field, Jackson Merril in center field, and Dustin Harris roams left field. Unfortunately, Jase Bowen’s postseason status remains up in the air.
His .152 batting average does not make him an ideal pinch-hitter off the bench. But Bowen’s ability to steal a base and his versatility to play anywhere in the field offer Stammen another option late in games.
The Padres may have room on the Wild Card round roster for another positional player if a starting pitcher is left off.
No decisions will be made until their opponent is set.
