Sung-Mun Song has not exactly forced his way out of Triple-A El Paso.

He’s receiving his first big-league call-up anyway as the Padres’ 27th man for their two-game series in Mexico City against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The exception to the 26-man roster is typically allowed for doubleheaders and during international series in which travel is not as easy as it is the rest of the season.

Saturday’s first pitch is at 3:05 p.m. on Padres.TV.

The 29-year-old Song reaggravated an oblique injury in spring training, necessitating a rehab assignment with the Chihuahuas after taking part in opening day festivities at Petco Park.

That assignment could only last 20 days, so Song was optioned to El Paso to continue his seasoning while the Padres continued to win with their current bench construction.

Song is hitting .293/.369/.320 as he has just two extra-base hits in 20 games so far in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. He has struck out 21 times, walked nine times and has seen time so far at shortstop (7 games), second base (4) and third base (7), as well as a pinch-hitter, pinch-runner and defensive replacement.

As the 27th man for this series, Song will provide the Padres with middle infield depth that they currently lack (that’s why Fernando Tatis Jr. had moonlighted at second base for off-days for Xander Bogaerts and Jake Cronenworth).

After an off-day on Friday, the Padres’ lineup for the opener has no surprises. The only real variables at the moment is who is catching, playing first base and serving as the DH.

Freddy Fermin will catch right-hander Germán Márquez as he has for his first four starts with the Padres. Meantime, Ty France draws the start at first base and Gavin Sheets is in the lineup at DH, giving the Padres a bench of Song, Miguel Andujar, Nick Castellanos, Bryce Johnson and catcher Luis Campusano.

Game 1. pic.twitter.com/rZ2e8FV5Xq

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 25, 2026

The Padres (17-8) are all alone atop the NL West, have won five straight series and have a three-game cushion on the Diamondbacks (14-11).

Here is how Arizona will line up for Game 1:

Sábado con S de Serpientesss pic.twitter.com/mIYIQBLA68

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) April 25, 2026

 

Saturday’s pitching matchup

Padres RHP Germán Márquez (2-1, 3.86 ERA)

He’s got a 2.30 ERA over his last three starts, sandwiching two scoreless road appearances around five innings of four-run ball against the Rockies at Petco Park. Márquez has a 15-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 18⅔ innings. Márquez has a 4.62 ERA in 132 ⅓ career innings against the Diamondbacks, although he allowed seven runs — five earned — in three innings in a start last year.

Here is how he’s fared against current D-backs:

D-backs RHP Zac Gallen (1-1, 3.51 ERA)

After dangling in free agency with a qualifying offer, the 30-year-old returned to Arizona on a one-year, $22.025 million deal. Gallen’s strikeout rate (4.9 per nine innings) is well below his career average (9.4), while his hit rate (10.9 per nine innings) is well above his career rate (7.6). Gallen has one quality start through five starts this year. He has a 3.49 ERA in 15 career starts against the Padres, but he had a 4.86 ERA in three starts last year.

Here is how Gallen has fared against current Padres: