The Padres are giving an opener another go in front of knuckleballer Matt Waldron.

The 29-year-old right-hander had been listed as the starter, but the Padres put the words on Tuesday morning that right-hander Bradgley Rodriguez would get the start at 4:40 p.m. to start a three-game series in Milwaukee.

Rodriguez turned in a one-two-three first inning ahead of Waldron’s last start in San Francisco. Waldron went on to strike out seven over five innings of one-run ball in the win.

He discussed the possibility of having an opener in front of him again on Sunday.

The 22-year-old Rodriguez has a 1.83 ERA, 14 strikeouts and a 1.02 WHIP through 19⅔ innings so far this season.

Back at it. pic.twitter.com/9qt3ryb2vy

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) May 12, 2026

The Padres (24-16) will keep center fielder Jackson Merrill (.665 OPS) in the leadoff spot for a for an eighth straight game.

Merrill is hitting .240/.387/.320 with two doubles in seven starts as the leadoff hitter.

Fernando Tatis Jr. (.611 OPS) will bat second and play second base, followed by third baseman Manny Machado (.647 OPS) and designated hitter Miguel Andujar (.762 OPS) batting clean-up for the first time.

Shortstop Xander Bogaerts (.779 OPS) will bat fifth, followed by first baseman Gavin Sheets (.690 OPS), Nick Castellanos (.560 OPS) in right field, left fielder Ramón Laureano (.694 OPS) and catcher Freddy Fermin (.496 OPS).

Here is how the Brewers (22-16), who activated Christian Yelich, will line up for Game 1:

Christian Yelich off the injured list and in #Brewers lineup: pic.twitter.com/erSMteTt20

— Jeff Sanders (@sdutSanders) May 12, 2026

 

Tuesday’s pitching matchup

Padres RHP Matt Waldron (1-1, 7.71 ERA)   

He also pitched behind an opener in his last appearance, striking out seven over five innings of one-run ball. He allowed two hits, including a solo homer, and did not walk a batter. He is throwing his knuckleball 31.3% of the time, but allowing a .320 batting average off the pitch so far. Hitters had a .246 average off the pitch in 2024, when he threw it 38.2% of the time. This is Waldron’s first appearance against the Brewers.

Only two Brewers have history with Waldron:

INF David Hamilton (0-for-3)
INF Luis Rengifo (1-folr-3)

Brewers RHP Brandon Sproat (0-2, 5.87 ERA)

Acquired from the Mets in the Freddy Peralta trade, the 25-year-old has a 5.44 ERA in 51⅓ innings since making his debut last year. He is allowing 2.1 homers per nine innings after not giving up a longball last year. Lefties have an .879 OPS so far in Sproat’s career, compared to righties’ .699 OPS. This is the Padres’ first meeting with Sproat.

Sproat has not faced any current Padres.