The San Diego Padres are gearing up to face the Pittsburgh Pirates in a three-game series, kicking off Friday evening at 6:40 p.m. on Padres.TV. With a taxed bullpen that has been struggling recently, the Padres have made a strategic move by recalling right-hander Bradgley Rodriguez from Double-A San Antonio for his Major League Baseball debut. To accommodate this change, left-hander Kyle Hart has been optioned to Triple-A El Paso.
The Padres’ bullpen has been solid early in the season but has since experienced challenges. Since a game it lost on May 6 in New York, the bullpen’s ERA has ballooned to 6.78, ranking as one of the lowest in the league. The increased workload has put significant stress on the relievers, particularly with closer Robert Suarez having limited availability recently and setup man Jason Adam also heavily utilized.
Rodriguez, who is 21 years old, is regarded as one of the top relief prospects within the Padres organization. He made a notable impression with a 3.22 ERA and a strong strikeout-to-walk ratio during his time at Double-A San Antonio, boasting 31 strikeouts against just five walks across 22⅓ innings, while successfully saving five games. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to reach the major leagues, emphasizing the hard work he has invested throughout his career.
Formerly sidelined by elbow inflammation, Rodriguez has made a remarkable comeback, achieving success that took him from Single-A to Double-A in just a year. His capabilities were on display during spring training when he recorded three strikeouts over three no-hit innings. With his fastball reaching speeds of 96-99 mph, complemented by an effective changeup and slider, Rodriguez is ready to make an impact.
Padres manager Mike Shildt praised Rodriguez for his compelling performance during the spring, highlighting his ability to remain composed and perform well under pressure, thanks to his experience in Venezuela’s winter leagues.
As for the matchup, the Padres will be hoping to extend their winning streak against the Pirates, having won all nine games against them since the start of the 2024 season. Fernando Tatis Jr. will return to right field after a day as the designated hitter, while Gavin Sheets moves to DH, and Tyler Wade transitions to left field.
In the pitching matchup, the Padres will face Pittsburgh’s Mitch Keller, who has shown signs of improvement in his recent outings, including a strong 1.89 ERA over his last three starts. Meanwhile, the Padres will counter with Nick Pivetta, who has been pitching effectively, holding a low 1.44 ERA at home this season.
This matchup presents a contingent of fresh talent with Rodriguez’s debut and a chance for the Padres to build momentum as they navigate through their bullpen challenges.