Manny Machado didn’t have his first day off in 2025 until mid-September, but the first day off for the 33-year-old third baseman arrives for the getaway game in Pittsburgh.
Not a half-day off either.
A full day off for the 9:35 a.m. start on Wednesday.
Series finale. pic.twitter.com/C6FWeKQBdQ
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 8, 2026
In Machado’s place, Miguel Andujar (.757 OPS) will play third base and Jackson Merrill (.704 OPS) will hit third. Machado’s absence also allows first baseman Gavin Sheets (.543 OPS) to move up to fourth in the lineup and Nick Castellanos (.636 OPS) to start at DH.
The 12th lineup in 12 games will also see left fielder Ramón Laureano (.687 OPS) lead off a fourth straight game ahead of right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (.560 OPS) and Luis Campusano (.500 OPS) start his first game behind the plate this series.
Machado’s 11 walks lead the NL. He went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts in Tuesday’s loss and is hitting .206/.400/.353 with one homer and four RBIs on the season.
Padres manager Craig Stammen addressed the need for Machado to take more days off in this spring training story.
Wednesday’s pitching matchup
Padres RHP Michael King (0-1, 3.38 ERA)
King struck out five but allowed four runs on seven hits and a walk in 5⅔ innings in his last start, a loss to the Red Sox. He has not turned in a quality start since May 6, 2025, at Yankee Stadium, before a nerve issue and a knee injury derailed his second season with the Padres. Both of his career starts against the Pirates came in 2024, when he allowed three earned runs across 11 innings and struck out 17 against two walks.
Here is how King has fared against current Pirates:
Pirates RHP Mitch Keller (1-0, 1.50 ERA)
He’s gone six innings in both starts, although he got away with walking four batters while giving up just two runs on six hits in a win last week against the Orioles. Keller has a 5.87 ERA in seven career starts against the Padres, including giving up seven earned runs in 11 innings across two starts last year.
Here is how Keller has fared against current Padres:
