San Diego Padres vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
At Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu
Game 1: 3:05 p.m. Saturday (Padres.TV)
Game 2: 1:05 p.m. Sunday (Padres.TV)
In the standings
San Diego Padres (17-8, 1st in NL West)
While the Padres were off on Friday, the Dodgers lost to fall a half-game behind San Diego in the division. The Padres have the second-best record in baseball and have won six straight series. The Padres won eight of 13 meetings last year with the Diamondbacks, the host team of this series.
Arizona Diamondbacks (14-11, 3rd in NL West)
The Diamondbacks are three games behind the Padres in the division. They have a minus-8 run differential, rank 10th in OPS (.723), 20th in rotation ERA (4.49) and 19th in bullpen ERA (4.60).
Trending
San Diego: The Padres have a .608 OPS over their last three series, with many of their main producers slumping—OF Fernando Tatis Jr. (.558, 26 PA), OF Jackson Merrill (.205, 26 PA), 3B Manny Machado (.367 OPS) and OF Ramón Laureano (.481 OPS). SS Xander Bogaerts has been the most productive bat over that stretch (1.026 OPS). In the bullpen, RHP Mason Miller (0.00 ERA) leads the team with 12 appearances, followed by 11 each from LHPs Adrián Morejón (6.39 ERA) and Wandy Peralta (2.31 ERA) and 10 from RHP Bradgley Rodriguez (0.73 ERA).
Arizona: 1B Ildemaro Vargas has three homers, eight RBIs and a 1.000 OPS over his last six games, while 3B Nolan Arenado has two homers, five RBIs and a 1.240 OPS over that stretch. OF Alek Thomas (1.423 OPS), SS Geraldo Perdomo (1.388 OPS) and OF Corbin Carroll (.900 OPS) are also hot over the last week. In the bullpen, RHP Ryan Thompson (4.66 ERA) leads the team with 14 appearances, followed by 13 from RHP Juan Morillo (2.13 ERA) and 12 each from RHPs Paul Sewald (4.50 ERA), Taylor Clarke (3.55 ERA) and Jonathan Loaisiga (3.86 ERA).
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen throws against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Pitching matchups
Saturday
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.
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.
Sunday
Padres RHP Michael King (3-1, 2.28 ERA) | He’s only gone six innings twice this year, largely because he’s averaging 4.6 walks per nine innings, well above his career rate (3.2). King is allowing opponents a .185/.315/.272 batting line so far this year, with a .587 opponent OPS below his career numbers (.652). King has thrown 13 ⅔ shutout innings at the Diamondbacks — all in the Padres rotation — striking out 11 against three walks.
D-backs RHP Ryne Nelson (1-2, 6.97 ERA) | The former second-rounder had a 3.54 ERA through four starts before allowing eight runs in one-third of an inning on Sunday against the Blue Jays. Nelson hasn’t allowed a home run since allowing two in each of his first two starts. Nelson has a 4.83 ERA in 11 games (10 starts) in his career against the Padres. He posted a 1.69 ERA over two starts (10⅔ IP) last year.
2026 team leaders
OPS: Padres—SS Xander Bogaerts (.810), OF Ramón Laureano (.804), 1B Gavin Sheets (.733); D-backs—OF Corbin Carroll (.976), SS Geraldo Perdomo (.768), 3B Nolan Arenado (.713).
HRs: Padres—Bogaerts (4), Laureano (4), Sheets (3), OF Jackson Merrill (3); D-backs—1B Ildemaro Vargas (5), Arenado (4), 2B Ketel Marte (4).
RBIs: Padres—Laureano (17), Bogaerts (16), Merrill (14); D-backs—Carroll (17), Vargas (16), Arenado (14).
Steals: Padres—OF Fernando Tatis Jr. (6), Merrill (5), Laureano (3), OF Bryce Johnson (3); D-backs—Perdomo (6), Carroll (4), OF Alek Thomas (4).
Saves: Padres—RHP Mason Miller (9-for-9, 0.00 ERA); D-backs—RHP Paul Sewald (7-for-7, 4.50 ERA).
Holds: Padres—RHP Jason Adam (4, 1.93 ERA), LHP Kyle Hart (4, 4.91 ERA), three tied with 3; D-backs—RHP Juan Morillo (6, 2.13 ERA), RHP Taylor Clarke (5, 3.55 ERA), two tied with 4.
Training room
San Diego: RHP Jeremiah Estrada is on the 15-day injured list with elbow tendinitis, but he began a rehab assignment on Friday in Lake Elsinore (1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, K). RHP Nick Pivetta may miss “weeks and maybe months” with a flexor strain sustained on Sunday. RHP Griffin Canning (Achilles) has made four rehab starts for Triple-A El Paso. LHP Yuki Matsui (groin) is also rehabbing with El Paso. RHP Joe Musgrove (Tommy John surgery) is playing catch but has not returned to throwing off a mound following spring setback.
Arizona: C Gabriel Moreno (oblique) could return to the active roster when the D-backs return from Mexico City, but 1Bs Pavin Smith (elbow) and Carlos Santana (remains without a timetable. OF Jordan Lawler (wrist fracture) is out until at least June. Among the pitchers making their way back, RHPs Coribn Burnes (Tommy John surgery) and Justin Martinez (Tommy John surgery) and LHP A.J. Puk (elbow surgery) could return by midseason.