X-rays on Ty France’s wrist were negative. His strength test results improved overnight and he took ground balls without issue ahead of Saturday’s 5:40 p.m. first pitch. He hadn’t swung a bat yet when he stopped in the clubhouse to give reporters an update on his status, but the 31-year-old first baseman expected to be available off the bench as at least a defensive replacement if needed.

“Yeah, better today,” France said. “Just bruising, general bruising. So got the inflammation out. Good to go.”

Again, off the bench as Gavin Sheets will man first base on Saturday and Miguel Andujar will serve as the designated hitter.

Saturday night lineup. pic.twitter.com/u8QXouH9KJ

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) June 27, 2026

France hit his 10th home run before a runaway pitch from Roki Sasaki struck him in the left wrist. He lay flat on his back at the plate for several minutes before remaining in the game. Several innings later, France reaggravated the wrist discomfort when his hand hit the dirt while trying to slide into third base.

France was replaced by Andujar at first base the next half-inning.

“Yeah, I mean, I think it was more adrenaline at that point,” France said of the initial hit-by-pitch. “I felt it really bad on that slide. I put my hand down and as soon as my hand hit the ground, body said no. Woke up today, feels OK. I mean, just general bruising.”

With Sheets at first base, Samad Taylor will start in left field and bat second in Game 2 against the Dodgers. Fernando Tatis Jr. will again play right field, while Will Wagner will get the start at second base.

The Padres had tweaked the rotation to push right-hander Randy Vásquez back from Wednesday to Friday and then Saturday. Now, the expectation is that Vásquez will provide bulk relief behind left-hander Kyle Hart, who’ll hope to retire at least the left-handed-hitting Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman in a clean first inning.

Perhaps Hart goes longer as the Dodgers also have dangerous lefties in Max Muncy, Kyle Tucker and Dalton Rushing.

Vásquez is allowing left-handed hitters a .328/.392/.597 batting line during his current six-start slump (6.91 ERA). Vásquez held lefties to a .248/.296/.362 batting line during his first nine starts starts.

Meantime, Hart is allowing lefties a .154/.214/.231 batting line and has topped out at 2⅓ innings in his relief work.

Here is how the Dodgers will line up for Game 2:

Tonight’s #Dodgers lineup at Padres: pic.twitter.com/ebWrKE1bfQ

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 27, 2026

 

Saturday’s pitching matchup

Dodgers RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (7-5, 2.65 ERA)

LA’s ace has quality starts in five of his last six starts (1.51 ERA), striking out 38 against seven walks over 4⅔ innings. He has a 4.97 ERA in five regular-season starts against the Padres but allowed just one run in seven innings in a tough-luck loss earlier this year. He also has a 5.63 ERA in two postseason starts against the Padres.

Here is how Yamamoto has fared in the regular season against current Padres:

Padres LHP Kyle Hart (0-1, 4.13 ERA) 

RHP Randy Vasquez (6-5, 4.17 ERA) is pitching behind an opener after having his start bumped from Wednesday to Saturday as the Padres gave him extra rest following a six-start slump that has seen him post a 6.91 ERA, walk 12 and allow seven homers over 27⅓ innings. The downturn began with allowing three runs in 4⅓ innings in a loss to the Dodgers. Vásquez has a 4.58 ERA in 17 ⅔ career innings against the Dodgers.

Here is how he’s fared against current Dodgers: