Matt Waldron has about another week left to his latest rehab assignment.
He appears determined to give the Padres a difficult decision.
The 29-year-old knuckleballer struck out three over three scoreless innings in Triple-A El Paso’s 8-5 win on Tuesday at Oklahoma City.
The effort lowered Waldron’s Triple-A ERA to 1.33 through 27 innings spread across two rehab stints. Waldron opened the season on the injured list after a spring training surgery on his lower half, posted an 8.49 ERA in in 23 ⅓ innings in the majors and returned to the shelf with an injury to a biceps muscle.
Waldron’s latest rehab assignment began on June 14, the start of a 30-day window. He threw 20 of his 30 pitches for strikes on Tuesday and has topped out at four innings during this stint (15 IP, 3 ER).
Third baseman Marcos Castañon (.793 OPS) drove in two runs on two hits.
Second baseman Luis Rengifo (.930 OPS) went 2-for-4 with an RBI, a walk and a run scored.
Catcher Blake Hunt (1.002 OPS) and left fielder Nick Solak (.892 OPS) each had a double.
El Paso is 41-47.
Tuesday’s scoreboard
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (37-45)
Midland 11, Missions 1: RHP Ian Koenig (3-7, 4.52 ERA) allowed five runs on seven hits and no walks in two innings in the start. DH Carson Tucker (.719 OPS) went 2-for-4 with a double. C Ethan Salas (.765 OPS) went 1-for-5 with a run scored.
HIGH SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (34-48)
West Michigan 3, TinCaps 0: SS Justin DeCriscio (.772 OPS) went 2-for-4, accounting for half of the TinCaps’ only hits in the game. RHP Kannon Kemp (0-1, 6.00 ERA) allowed two runs on two hits and two walks in his 2026 debut. RHP Clark Candiotti (5.40 ERA) turned in a scoreless inning in his return from San Antonio, where he had a 12.08 ERA in 12⅔ innings.
LOW SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (43-39)
Rancho Cucamonga 6, Storm 2: RHP Jesus A. Castro (1-3, 3.99 ERA) struck out three but allowed five runs in five innings in the loss. SS Jorge Quintana (.655 OPS) went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and his 16th steal.
ROOKIE ACL PADRES (26-22)
Giants 7, Padres 2: RF Jesmaylin Arias (.788 OPS) doubled in two runs. C Jhojan Downer (.777 OPS) went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk. RHP Jose Leclerc (0.00 ERA) turned in his second scoreless appearance.
ROOKIE DSL BROWN (4-14)
Red Sox 17, Padres 5 (7): The Padres managed just two hits but worked 11 walks, including three each by 1B Pedro Silva (.818 OPS) and SS Dawry Guerrero (.762 OPS). A second game was suspended with the Reds Sox leading 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning.
ROOKIE DSL GOLD (21-6)
Padres 7, Brewers 5: SS Joniel Hernandez (1.001 OPS) drove in three runs on two hits, including a double. 2B Yorvin Morla (.910 OPS) and CF Eliander Primera (.690 OPS) both had two hits.