Timely hitting and quality starting pitching have defined the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks’ four-game series. The teams are in a fierce battle for the final National League Wild-Card berth. Tonight, the Padres are seeking a series split in the final game.
Starting pitching has dominated the four-game set
At the trade deadline, the Friar Faithful hoped the club would acquire at least one starting pitcher to bolster the rotation. But Padres President of Baseball Operations and General Manager AJ Preller did one better; he acquired two
serviceable starters.
Not surprisingly, pitching has dominated the four-game set in the desert this week. Each night’s winner threw a gem, as the games could not have played out any better for each fan base.
The series opener was highlighted by Diamondbacks starter Brandon Pfaadt’s pitching outing. The young pitcher earned his sixth win of the season by tossing 6.1 innings and giving up only five hits. The Friars could only muster one unearned run off of him. His pitching performance has set the standard for the series.
On Tuesday night, Padres starter Randy Vasquez turned in a much-needed dominant performance in the second game of the series. He fired six scoreless innings of two-hit ball for his seventh win of the season.
The D-Backs relied on rookie pitcher Mitch Bratt to secure the third game of the set. He struggled with his control in prior starts, but Bratt set the tone last night. The young left-hander threw strikes that earned him the victory and extended the Snakes’ Wild-Card lead over San Diego to two games.
Taking the mound: Walker Buehler (SD) vs Kole Drake (ARIZ)
Tonight’s game will be the 10th meeting between the Friars and the Diamondbacks in the season series. San Diego is looking to gain a split in the four-game set and will send out Walker Buehler (6-5, 5.18 ERA) to the mound. The right-hander hopes to remain consistent, especially after his rough stretch before the All-Star break. Over a brutal 11-inning span, Buehler was tagged for 20 runs.
He settled down in the second half, giving the Padres a chance to win each start. One pitching issue that has lingered all season is his control. Buehler’s command of the strike zone has been missing in 2026. It has allowed opponents to put the ball in play and increased his runners stranded on base rate for the season.
The Snakes will counter with rookie Kole Drake (0-0, 4.85 ERA), who is making his fourth career start in the majors. Injuries to the starting rotation have forced the D-Backs to call up their promising young starters. Drake has been very solid in each outing, but he must maintain consistency to remain in the majors.
The left-hander is vulnerable to giving up the long ball, as he averages over two home runs per start. The Friars’ middle of the order (Manny Machado, Ty France, and Jackson Merrill) will provide a challenge this evening.
Drake has pitched only 13 innings, so it is tough to decide if he is a swing-and-miss pitcher. But his strikeout numbers (12 Ks) are impressive.
