Over the first five months of his tenure as San Diego Padres manager, Craig Stammen offers the perfect poker face when answering questions about his team’s play. But his unshakeable composure might be tested in the season’s final month.
Coming off a memorable 21-7 hot streak out of the All-Star break, the Padres limped into September with a 2-7 mark in their last nine games. That recent slump has sparked restlessness among the Friar Faithful.
It has not been easy for Stammen to keep the Friars playing
consistent baseball all season. He faces another challenge in seeking a path to a Wild Card berth.
Most of his upcoming decisions will not be easy, as they will center on the pitching staff. And Stammen’s choices must put the team in position to win each night.
Do the Padres have enough starting pitching?
No question, the Friars have a reliable five-man starting rotation. Everyone is in relatively good health after early-season injuries nearly decimated the staff.
On the mound, Randy Vasquez has pitched like an ace. In August, he put together his best stretch of the season, posting a 4-0 mark with a 2.57 ERA in five appearances. The right-hander has put himself in the conversation for possible late-season starts. Stammen has a difficult choice between Vasquez and a proven commodity in Nick Pivetta.
Before any decision, Stammen and pitching coach Ruben Niebla must determine whether Pivetta can contribute down the stretch. He has worked his way back from an elbow injury, but the jury is still out on whether Pivetta can thrive in the majors again. It will be a tough decision that may come down to arm strength and the ability to be effective every fifth day.
A surplus of starting pitching is a luxury in September. Unfortunately, arm injuries (Joe Musgrove’s setback) and subpar pitching performances come unannounced.
Whoever is chosen, Stammen has confidence in their ability.
What is the state of the Friars’ bullpen?
The bullpen has been the one constant for the Padres in 2026. But the unit has hit a rough patch, being unable to protect late-inning leads. Closer Mason Miller experienced a brief hiccup, giving up a go-ahead home run and blowing a save during this bad stretch.
Stammen may need to shorten the circle of trust with his set-up relievers. It is time for him to judge which pitchers can excel in high-leverage situations. To secure a postseason berth, the workload will be excessive, with few days off on the docket.
The goal is to stabilize the bullpen by identifying everyone’s role and recording big outs.
With all that said, every Wild Card-contending team has blemishes of its own. It will be a sprint to the finish line.
After a season of ups and downs, the Friars hope that a few more highs await them in September.
