The Padres will be without Walker Buehler for the start of the National League Division Series, with the right-hander placed on the Paternity List Saturday just hours before Game 1 against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Buehler was on San Diego’s original 26-man NLDS roster, but the club replaced him with Randy Vasquez after the move. Buehler’s wife, McKenzie, is expected to give birth to their second child on Saturday.
Major League Baseball announced the roster switch and outlined the timing of Buehler’s absence: "Major League Baseball announced today the placement of San Diego Padres pitcher Walker Buehler on the Postseason Paternity List. During Buehler’s absence, pitcher Randy Vasquez will be an active member of San Diego’s National League Division Series roster.
Buehler will be allowed to be away from the Club for a minimum of one day and a maximum of three days. Upon his return, Buehler will take Vasquez’s place on the Padres’ active roster."
Buehler’s status came as a mild surprise when he wasn’t chosen to start Game 1, though the Padres appeared to be preparing for this possibility and turned to left-hander Robbie Ray instead.
Even with the roster change, manager Craig Stammen made it clear Buehler still figures into the postseason plan. "Walker will play a big role in this series at some point," Stammen said on Friday.
"I don't know when that is. But he's got such a playoff pedigree that it will be hard for us to leave him out and not give him a chance to put his mark on the series."
Because the paternity absence can last no more than three days, Buehler is expected to be back in time for Tuesday’s Game 3 at Petco Park. Michael King is set to start Game 2 on Sunday.
In Other News...
Padres Left Field Need Puts A Familiar Former Star In Play
The Padres are already being viewed as a club that will need to shop for outfield help when the 2026-27 offseason arrives, and left field looks like the spot most likely to get the most attention. It is the kind of need that tends to linger for a contender, especially when the answer in one corner of the outfield has yet to settle into the kind of established everyday option a club can count on.
Trent Grisham has surfaced as one name to watch, which would add a familiar wrinkle to any future pursuit. He spent four seasons in San Diego before moving on to the Yankees in 2026, and his history with the Padres includes two Gold Glove awards, giving him the kind of defensive reputation that could make him appealing if the club wants a steadier presence in left. For now, it remains a matter of fit and timing, but the possibility is the sort of one that naturally gets attention around a team still mapping out its next roster move. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Defense Just Earned Recognition Fans Will Love
MLBs Gold Glove finalists list brought a familiar name and a new one into the spotlight for San Diego, with first baseman Ty France and catcher Freddy Fermin both earning National League recognition at their positions. France is back in the mix as a defending Gold Glove winner, and his profile this year was backed by elite defensive work at first base, while Fermins first nomination reflects the impact he made behind the plate in his first season of this kind of recognition.
For the Padres, the pairing says a lot about the kind of value they got on the run-prevention side of the game. France stood out across the majors in Defensive Runs Saved at first base, and Fermin added his own case with a strong caught stealing rate that helped him get on the finalists list. The Gold Glove winners will be announced Nov. 1 on ESPN, giving San Diego at least a little more reason to keep an eye on awards season. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Offseason Pressure Is On After Their Biggest Flaws Got Exposed
The Padres are heading into an offseason that already feels defined by urgency. After their National League Division Series loss, the front office is weighing ways to shore up a roster that showed its biggest flaws under October pressure, with the outfield and starting rotation both standing out as clear areas to address. Interest has reportedly surfaced in Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan, and Detroit ace Tarik Skubal could be a free-agent target as San Diego looks for impact help rather than small fixes.
Just as important, the Padres are staring at a slate of contract decisions that could shape how aggressive they can be. With so much tied to what happens next, the organization is trying to balance immediate roster upgrades against longer-term planning, all while making sure last seasons weak spots do not carry into another playoff run. The direction they choose in the coming months will say plenty about how convinced they are that this core is still close. [Read more 🡒]