The San Diego Padres limped to a 2-4 record to start the 2026 season with two three-game sets against the Detroit Tigers and San Francisco Giants. San Diego dropped the first two games in each series and needed to win the third game in order to salvage the series. The Friar Faithful did what they have been known to do and sold out each of the first six games despite the lackluster start by the Padres. Manager Craig Stammen will get his first shot to manage on the road with his first test coming against the Boston
Red Sox at Fenway Park before moving onto PNC Park to face the Pittsburgh Pirates. It is too early in the season to make any definitive judgements about the first-year manager or his squad, but a slow start on the road that mimics what they did in San Diego could sound alarm bells among the fanbase. The Padres will be in action against the Red Sox at 11:10 a.m.
Padres News:
- The series at Fenway Park is a homecoming of sorts for San Diego shortstop Xander Bogaerts. He returns to the field where he started his career, won a championship and put up the numbers that allowed him to receive a massive contract from the Padres for the first time since leaving the Red Sox.
- Matt Waldron continues to build up for a potential return to the major league roster and Ethan Salas continued his solid spring start with a solid start to the minor league season, recording a hit in his first outing.
Baseball News:
- The Pittsburgh Pirates are calling up top prospect Konnor Griffin who will make his MLB debut in front of the hometown crowd today.
- Kansas City Royals top prospect catcher Carter Jensen had his welcome to the MLB moment when he overslept and was removed from the lineup by manager Matt Quatraro.
- Daniel Susac of the San Francisco Giants made his first start of the season and recorded three hits.
- A successful challenge by Ozzie Albies helped the Atlanta Braves scored eight runs in the fifth inning en route to a 17-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday.
