The Padres had Randy Vásquez locked and loaded for Friday’s pitching script.
They did not end up using him, so they’ll start him over left-hander JP Sears on Saturday against the Miami Marlins.
First pitch is at 1:10 p.m. on Padres.TV.
Saturday afternoon baseball. pic.twitter.com/wEwDUtMquY
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 25, 2026
Padres manager Craig Stammen pulled right-hander Germán Márquez after 2⅓ innings in Friday’s win. Afterward, he explained the move like this:
“We’re just trying to piece it together, use all 13 and figure out a way to get through the game. Maybe limited exposure or get guys in the right lanes, however you want to call it. It’ll probably be more of the norm going forward.”
Not long after Stammen spoke with reporters, the team announced that Vásquez would start. The social media post did not mention plans for Sears, who last started in a loss on July 20 (5 IP, 2 R, 1 ER).
Vásquez (6-6, 4.72 ERA) last pitched on July 22 out of the bullpen (⅔ IP, 2 ER). He threw three shutout innings out of the bullpen on July 19 in Kansas City and last started a game on July 2 at Dodger Stadium (3 IP, 4 ER).
Vásquez has a 3.77 14⅓ career innings against the Marlins, which includes two no-decisions last year (10 ⅔ IP, 4 ER).
Here is how Vásquez has fared against current Marlins:
It remans to be seen how Sears (2-3, 4.38 ERA) will factor in this game, if he does at all (Walker Buehler is Sunday’s probable if you’re wondering).
The Padres are 2-3 in games started by Sears, who has a 4.30 ERA in three starts away from Petco Park. Sears has yet to complete six innings since joining the Padres rotation or throw more than 95 pitches. He has a 1.42 ERA in two career starts against the Marlins, including two runs in 6⅓ innings in a no-decision last year.
Here is how he’s fared against current Marlins:
Marlins right-hander Eury Perez (5-7, 3.53 ERA) is four innings from besting his previous career-high workload (95⅓ innings). Perez, 23, is also five strikeouts away from a new career high in strikeouts (108). The 6-foot-8 Dominican has allowed two runs or less in his last seven starts (1.14 ERA).
He lost his only start against the Padres last year (5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BBs, 5 Ks).
Here is how Perez has fared against current Padres:
As for Saturday’s Padres lineup, Fernando Tatis Jr. is getting his first DH day of the season. That will push Gavin Sheets into right field and Luis Rengifo into left field.
Xander Bogaerts will bat eighth for a second game in a row and Freddy Fermin is behind the plate and batting ninth.
The Padres (51-53) remain four games out of a wild-card spot with five teams to overtake, including Miami (52-52). The Padres’ playoff odds sit at 9.5%, according to fangraphs.com.
Here is how the Marlins, who have lost 10 in a row, will line up for Game 2:
Game two.
🤝: @PNCBank
📺: https://t.co/pMAEOPHNJ8
👂: @MarlinsRadio, @radiomambi710, @1043wqam
⏰: 4:10 PM ET
🏟️: Roof status: CLOSED#FightinFish // https://t.co/ZrOdIbYDTI pic.twitter.com/FqDnK5Htn4
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) July 25, 2026