{"id":402803,"date":"2026-07-17T22:54:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T22:54:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/402803\/"},"modified":"2026-07-17T22:54:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T22:54:13","slug":"padres-pregame-freddy-fermin-to-be-activated-rodolfo-duran-optioned-to-start-second-half","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/402803\/","title":{"rendered":"Padres pregame: Freddy Fermin to be activated, Rodolfo Dur\u00e1n optioned to start second half"},"content":{"rendered":"

Freddy Fermin will enjoy a homecoming after all.<\/p>\n

The Padres will activate the 31-year-old catcher in time for the weekend\u2019s series at Kansas City, his first games at Kauffman Stadium since he was traded to the Padres at last year\u2019s deadline.<\/p>\n

Fermin, however, is not in the lineup as Luis Campusano will start Friday\u2019s game (5:10 p.m. on Padres.TV, CBS\/8.1, TV Azteca).<\/p>\n

Kansas City for the weekend. pic.twitter.com\/b38849xiTx<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

To make room for Fermin, Rodolfo Dur\u00e1n will be optioned to Triple-A El Paso.<\/p>\n

Fermin was on the injured list for the second time this season with a head contusion. He missed time earlier this year with a concussion.<\/p>\n

Fermin served as the DH over the weekend while on a rehab assignment with El Paso. He was 3-for-12 with two RBIs, a walk and two strikeouts.<\/p>\n

Fermin is hitting .152\/.252\/.268 with three homers and 11 RBIs in 58 games after starting the season as the starter behind the plate. He hit .244\/.278\/.339 with two homers in 42 games last year after the deadline.<\/p>\n

His injuries and a lack of production at the plate, however, has opened the door for Campusano to take the lion\u2019s share of the starts behind the plate moving forward.<\/p>\n

Campusano missed roughly two months with a broken toe and an oblique tweak, but he is hitting .300\/.395\/.571 with four homers and 11 RBIs in 26 games. He was also scratched Sunday with abdominal soreness but is back in the lineup and batting ninth, behind second baseman Jake Cronenworth (.566 OPS) and designated hitter Miguel Andujar (.719 OPS) in the bottom third.<\/p>\n

Gavin Sheets (.748 OPS) will bat fifth and play left field and Ty France (.815 OPS) will bat sixth and play first base.<\/p>\n

The 28-year-old Dur\u00e1n has three homers in 35 games in this first call-up to the majors, but he\u2019s hitting .146\/.222\/.305 across 91 plate appearances.<\/p>\n

The Padres are 48-48, 3\u00bd games out of a wild-card spot and have four teams to overtake to get back into playoff position.<\/p>\n

Hence, long playoff odds as calculated by Baseball Prospectus (15.5%), Fangraphs (12%) and ESPN (9.3%).<\/p>\n

The Padres are 19-11 so far in interleague play and 24-27 on the road<\/p>\n

Here is how the Royals (38-59), losers of five in a row and owners of the worst winning percentage (.392) in the majors, will line up to start a three-game series<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Second half starts tonight. pic.twitter.com\/BmrIWE0gC7<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Kansas City Royals (@Royals) July 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Friday\u2019s pitching matchup<\/p>\n

Padres RHP Michael King (6-7, 3.41 ERA)<\/p>\n

He has quality starts in three of his last four trips to the mound (2.70 ERA). King has a 3.83 ERA in eight road starts this year and a 3.32 ERA in 19 career innings against the Royals. He last faced them in a start in 2024 (7 IP, 1 ER).<\/p>\n

Here is how King has fared against current Royals:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Royals RHP Seth Lugo (3-6, 4.56 ERA)<\/p>\n

The 36-year-old former Padre has a 3.72 ERA in three seasons since leaving San Diego as a free agent. The Royals have lost three of Lugo\u2019s last four starts (8.38 ERA). He struck out seven over 6 1\/3 innings of one-run ball against the Padres last year and has a 2.63 ERA in 27 1\/3 career innings against the Padres.<\/p>\n

Here is how Lugo has fared against current Padres:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

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