{"id":677229,"date":"2026-04-16T23:00:22","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T23:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/677229\/"},"modified":"2026-04-16T23:00:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T23:00:22","slug":"padres-pregame-seeking-8th-straight-win-freddy-fermin-avoids-concussion-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/677229\/","title":{"rendered":"Padres pregame: Seeking 8th straight win, Freddy Fermin avoids concussion list"},"content":{"rendered":"

Freddy Fermin had absorbed his fare share of foul balls off his mask of late, the last forcing him from Wednesday\u2019s game in the third inning. The Padres, however, were hopeful he\u2019d avoid the concussion list after he passed tests on Wednesday and Fermin passed another on Thursday morning.<\/p>\n

He woke up refreshed after a sound night of sleep.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll good, Fermin said at his locker Thursday afternoon. \u201cI woke up this morning and everything normal. No more pressure in my head and everything else good.\u201d<\/p>\n

As such, the plan is Fermin to be available off the bench for Thursday\u2019s 5:40 p.m. start against the Seattle Mariners. The Padres fetched a contingency plan from Round Rock, Texas, pulling catcher Rodolfo Duran up from Triple-A El Paso and onto the taxi squad, but they continue to believe that Fermin dodged a bullet.<\/p>\n

\u201c(He) came out of it pretty good, not feeling too bad last night, just kind of had what we call a head contusion,\u201d Padres manager Craig Stammen said. \u201cSo it\u2019s a little sore, but concussion tests, all that stuff, came back negative today, feeling even better, feels normal. So available for the game today.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for Duran\u2019s presence after he was pulled late from El Paso\u2019s game on Wednesday in Round Rock, Stammen said, \u201cFreddy could go out here, take BP, have a headache and then all that kind of changes. So we have him just in case of an emergency.\u201d<\/p>\n

All that said, Luis Campusano will start behind the plate as he has all season with Walker Buehler. He\u2019ll also bat eighth, between designated hitter Miguel Andujar and second baseman Jake Cronenworth in the first lineup that Stammen has repeated this season in 19 games.<\/p>\n

Thursday night baseball. pic.twitter.com\/f68pBDUHEJ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The Padres (12-6) are looking to extend their winning streak to eight games, which would be their longest since Sept. 13-22 in 2023 after their playoff hopes had been all but dashed.<\/p>\n

Here is how the Mariners (8-11), the defending Vedder Cup champions, will line up as they look to avoid a sweep:<\/p>\n

One more for the road. #TridentsUp<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/L04nk66LDr<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) April 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

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

Mariners RHP Luis Castillo (0-0, 6.92 ERA)<\/p>\n

Right-handed hitters have a .985 OPS so far against Castillo. He has allowed 10 earned runs over his last two starts (7 IP) after opening the season with seven strikeouts over six shutout innings. Castillo has a 3.71 ERA over nine career starts against the Padres. He allowed five runs in five innings in a no-decision last year.<\/p>\n

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

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Padres RHP Walker Buehler (0-1, 4.97 ERA)<\/p>\n

He needed just 68 pitches to get through six shutout innings in his last start. He struck out four and did not walk a batter after walking five through his first two starts (6\u2154 IP). Buehler has a 7.08 ERA in four career starts against the Mariners, including two since his Tommy John surgery (7 \u2153 IP, 11 ER).<\/p>\n

Here is how Buehler has fared against current Mariners:<\/p>\n

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