Craig Stammen has used eight two-hole hitters so far this season. Samad Taylor won’t be his last two-hole hitter, but the Padres’ rookie manager is more than content with riding a hot hand in that spot as Taylor will bat second in a third straight game to start a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Friday’s first pitch is at 6:45 p.m. on Apple TV.

Enfocados.

📺: https://t.co/WtqPJHNDQY pic.twitter.com/Zxyl0rDPG5

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) June 26, 2026

This is Taylor’s sixth start overall in the two-hole. He hit there in three straight games on the road trip, got a start in the leadoff spot on Sunday and then in the nine-hole to start the homestand on Monday.

Taylor is hitting .379/.438/.448 with one homer, 11 RBIs and six steals in seven chances. He has also scored 11 in runs, with the Padres going 9-6 in games he starts.

“He’s creates a little bit of havoc,” Stammen said. “He’s a little Energizer Bunny, and he’s energy in the dugout. He’s an energy giver. He gives energy to our lineup, whether he can bunt, steal, hit and run, play great defense. He just does a lot for our team … like those little things that help our team win a baseball game.”

Taylor (.886 OPS) will play left field and bat behind Fernando Tatis Jr. (.714 OPS), who is in right field. Center fielder Jackson Merrill (.626 OPS) will bat third, followed by third baseman Manny Machado (.645 OPS) and designated hitter Gavin Sheets (.645 OPS).

Shortstop Xander Bogaerts (.658 OPS) will bat sixth, followed by first baseman Ty France (.782 OPS), second baseman Will Wagner (.742 OPS) and catcher Rodolfo Durán (.578 OPS).

Here is how the Dodgers will line up for Game 1:

Tonight’s #Dodgers lineup at Padres: pic.twitter.com/32YPsDPKx3

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 26, 2026

 

Adding Luis Rengifo

The Padres are signing Luis Rengifo to a minor league deal, the Union-Tribune has confirmed. The switch-hitting infielder will spend a few days in Arizona before joining Triple-A El Paso.

The Milwaukee Brewers released Rengifo earlier this week.

Rengifo, 29, was hitting .205/.208/.254 with no homers, 19 RBIs and three steals in 57 games. He is a .246/.305/.372 hitter across parts of eight seasons in the majors. He hit 33 homers while playing 253 games for the Angels between 2022-2023 (.751 OPS).

Rengifo effectively will get the minor league at-bats that were going to Nick Solak, who elected free agency after the Padres designated him for assignment on Sunday. Solak appeared in four games with the Padres (.443 OPS) after pairing nine homers with a .333/.412/.512 batting line with El Paso.

 

Notable

2B Jake Cronenworth (concussion) received clearance to begin a minor league rehab assignment on Friday. He’s in Triple-A El Paso’s lineup in the two-hole and at second base. He’s been on the concussion list since May 5.
Both the Padres and Dodgers will wear “VZ” on their hats in support of the victims of the devastating earthquake in Venezuela.

 

Friday’s pitching matchup

Dodgers RHP Roki Sasaki (3-4, 4.76 ERA)

The 24-year-old is facing the Padres for the first time since choosing the Dodgers over San Diego during the 2025 international signing period. He has a 4.76 ERA in 104⅓ innings since debuting last year, although his strikeout rate has jumped from 17.4% last year to 24.1% and his walk rate has dropped from 13.7% to 8.6%. Sasaki has allowed 10 runs over his last 10 innings.

No Padres have any regular-season history with Sasaski

Padres RHP Walker Buehler (4-3, 3.96 ERA)

The former Dodger is facing his old friends for the second time after allowing three runs in 4 ⅔ innings in a no-decision last year. Buehler has allowed just one run in each of his last four starts (1.71 ERA), with the Padres going 3-1 in those games. He does, however, have just three quality starts in 15 starts this year.

Here is how Buehler has fared against current Dodgers: