Getty
The Padres are expected to activate an All-Star pitcher
The San Diego Padres won their series opener against the Colorado Rockies in dramatic fashion as shortstop Xander Bogaerts delivered a walk-off grand slam in the 12th inning. As has been the case all year, San Diego’s offense struggled to generate runs, as they scored only one run before extra innings.
Despite this, the Padres were able to go above .500 for the first time this season. They were able to do this primarily due to their strong pitching. Starting pitcher Randy Vásquez had his third consecutive strong start, as he struck out eight over 5.1 innings, while allowing only one run. He has notched eight strikeouts twice this season, something he had done only once before in his career.
However, after playing 12 innings, San Diego taxed its bullpen heading into the second game of the series. Fortunately, the team is expected to receive some good news soon.
San Diego Padres Bullpen Is Expected to Receive Boost
During the win, the Padres used five pitchers out of their bullpen, including All-Stars Mason Miller and Adrian Morejon. However, the team is expected to see the return of All-Star Jason Adam, as The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Kevin Acee reported that he is expected to be activated before the second game against Colorado.
Since being acquired by San Diego during the 2024 trade deadline, Adam has pitched 92 innings with a 1.66 ERA. Unfortunately, Adam suffered a late-season ruptured quad tendon that knocked him out of the 2025 postseason and the start of the 2026 season.
Regarding his upcoming return, Jason Adam said, “You’re just ready to start some real ballgames. I mean, I just want to contribute to this team. It’s a special group. We’re in a great place to have a lot of success this year. So I want to pull a little bit of weight.”
“I feel like I’m moving well, no restrictions,” Adam added. “Arm feels good. Leg feels good. Got to cover first (Wednesday), so we got to check another box.”
It is yet to be determined which pitcher out of the Padres bullpen will be demoted to make room for Jason Adam.
Jeremiah Estrada’s Struggles
One option for the Padres is to either demote Jeremiah Estrada or place him on the injured list. The right-handed flamethrower has seen a dramatic decrease in his fastball velocity during the 2026 season, and his production has taken a toll as a result.
Through the 2026 season, Estrada’s hard-hit percentage is the highest since he arrived in San Diego. His strikeout rate is also the lowest it has been with the Padres.
“I have no idea,” Estrada said regarding his declining velocity. “I’m probably the strongest I’ve ever been.”
Aside from the declining velocity, Estrada has also struggled with command. He is currently walking batters 16.7% of the time, which is also the highest of his Padres career.
Estrada has displayed dominance out of the bullpen, but that has not been the case this season. Padres fans will have to hope that he regains some of his previous skills that made him among the top relievers in the sport.
Jose Esquer Jose Esquer is a Mexican-American sportswriter and communications student based in San Diego, CA. His work spans football, basketball, baseball, and soccer. He has written for platforms like RotoWire and DolphinsTalk. You can find him on Twitter/X @JEsquer8, usually talking Dolphins, world football, or both. More about Jose Esquer
More Heavy on Padres
Loading more stories