Big day, big series; Sears' gives his all; More Morejón
sandiegouniontribune.com • • sports
Key Points:
- The San Diego Padres are set to acquire at least one starting pitcher before the trade deadline, with Mason Miller and Adrian Morejón expected to remain on the roster to support their 2026 playoff ambitions.
- The Padres have improved their playoff positioning significantly, moving from four games out on July 23 to just one game out and facing a crucial four-game series against a direct competitor.
- The team has been relying heavily on bullpen games due to rotation challenges, with key relievers like Adrian Morejón pitching extensive innings and showing impressive durability and effectiveness.
- Jackson Merrill has emerged as a strong offensive contributor, batting .317 with a .900 OPS over the past month, while the Padres continue to manage injuries and player workloads carefully.
- Manager Craig Stammen and the coaching staff are experimenting with pitcher usage and recovery strategies to maximize effectiveness, especially given the unconventional pitching roles and tight schedule leading up to the postseason push.
