For the first time in 2026, the Atlanta Braves were swept. For most of the season, they’ve been the unquestioned best team in baseball. The Los Angeles Dodgers now hold sole possession of that title. But, of all teams, the San Diego Padres were the first (and only) to do it. They beat them handily, outdueling them at every turn and playing good baseball for the first time in what’s felt like a while.
Starter JP Sears did exactly what he needed to do: save the bullpen. The ‘pen had been taxed after
Griffin Canning couldn’t finish a single inning in Tuesday night’s matchup. Thankfully, Sears was able to work into the sixth inning in his first start of the season against a Braves lineup that has not been kind to most.
The Friars need all the help they can get facing Los Angeles. Their momentum certainly helps as the two rivals clash for the second time this season on Friday night. Winning the series opener would be huge for San Diego. They’ll need to keep their foot on the gas in order to do so.
Taking the mound
Roki Sasaki (LAD) v. Walker Buehler (SD)
Sasaki has started to come into his own a bit this year. After struggling in 2025 as a starter, the righty was moved to the bullpen where he dominated in the postseason. Now, he’s back in the rotation and has worked through his struggles.
That said, despite flashing elite stuff, he still doesn’t look like the pitcher he was in Japan. Sasaki owns a 4.76 ERA and 1.29 WHIP through 68 innings pitched. His last few starts have been marginally better, but he just gave up seven runs to the Chicago White Sox. The Padres’ lineup has looked good lately. It will be interesting to see how much Sasaki can limit the damage.
Buehler will make his scheduled start, with Randy Vásquez moving to Lucas Giolito’s spot after the latter was moved to the 15-day IL. He’s surged as of late, pitching to a 2.72 ERA across his last seven starts. He’s given up just one run apiece in each of his last four starts.
The longtime Dodger will face his former team for the first time as a member of the rival Padres. Buehler has had success facing his former teammates before, but San Diego will need him to keep it going in order to make up ground in the divisional race.
Batter up!
Tonight’s game actually marks the first time that the Friars will face Sasaki. That tends to be an advantage for the pitcher, but that hasn’t been the case for the righty in the past. San Diego just scored 13 runs off of a very good Atlanta pitching staff, and they’ll need their lineup to keep it up.
- Fernando Tatis Jr., 2B
- Samad Taylor, RF
- Manny Machado, 3B
- Xander Bogaerts, SS
- Jackson Merrill, CF
- Gavin Sheets, LF
- Ty France, 1B
- Will Wagner, DH
- Freddy Fermin, C
After his homer in Wednesday’s series finale, France figures to start at first base. That seems to suggest that Taylor shifts over to right field to make room for Sheets in the outfield. That said, Sheets could DH and Tatis could start in right field. He’s played a lot of second base this season, but the Padres have used him in the outfield more in the last few games.
Relief corps
Like I said, Sears did exactly what the Friars needed him to do. San Diego only needed three arms to finish out the game (though why they didn’t use Ron Marinaccio instead of David Morgan remains to be seen). The latter had pitched in the previous game where the former hasn’t thrown since Sunday. Either way, it was a successful first outing for Sears.
Morgan finished out the sixth and seventh innings before Wandy Peralta covered the eighth. He set up Jason Adam, who slammed the door shut on Atlanta to sweep the series. With the off day on Thursday, the bullpen will get some much-needed (and much-deserved) rest. Everyone will be available, but, barring any moves, Kyle Hart, Ron Marinaccio, Yuki Matsui, Mason Miller and Adrian Morejon will be options after not pitching in the series finale.
