Ethan Salas is sitting on the edge of MLB playoff history, but the Padres don’t need to treat that like the whole story. The 20-year-old can become the youngest catcher ever to appear in a postseason game during San Diego’s Wild Card Series against the Cubs, and there’s a clean baseball case for making it happen the right way.
Game 1 doesn’t look like the spot. Chicago is starting Matthew Boyd, a left-hander who points the Padres toward Luis Campusano or Freddy Fermin behind the plate. There’s no reason to chase a record just because it’s available.
Game 2 could be different. Nick Pivetta is the likely starter for San Diego, and if the Cubs counter with a right-hander, Salas suddenly fits. His left-handed bat would give the Padres another look in the lineup, and the connection with Pivetta gives the decision real substance.
That battery isn’t new. Salas caught Pivetta during his final Triple-A rehab outing.
He was also behind the plate when Pivetta rejoined the Padres’ rotation on Sept. 7 and threw five scoreless innings. The two worked together again on Sept. 24 against the Dodgers.
This would not be some blind leap into October.
If Salas gets into the series at catcher, he would take Bob Didier’s place atop the postseason age list. Didier was 20 years and 230 days old when he played for Atlanta in the 1969 NLCS, and Salas will enter this series more than 100 days younger.
A late-inning cameo would probably cheapen the moment. That’s not really what this feels like anyway. The Padres brought him up because they believe he can handle a major-league staff and contribute against major-league pitching.
Starting him in Game 2 against a right-hander would say that out loud. Of course, the Cubs still have a say in all this. If they go with a lefty, Campusano or Fermin could be back in the mix.
San Diego has been aggressive with Salas throughout his development, and that confidence should matter now. Trust can’t just live in the regular season when things are easy. If the matchup is right, the Padres should hand him the mask.
If Chicago goes with a right-hander in Game 2, San Diego should start Salas, let him take real at-bats and ask him to help Pivetta get the game to the bullpen.
Then the record can come with it. That’s the version that actually means something: Salas would not just be the youngest postseason catcher. He would be the youngest postseason catcher because the Padres thought he could help them win.
In Other News...
Padres Just Gave The Cubs A Wild-Card Twist To Worry About
The Padres have set their 26-man roster for the wild-card series against the Cubs, and it comes with a few choices that could shape how this matchup is played. San Diego is carrying 15 position players and 11 pitchers, with the group built to give manager Mike Shildt plenty of flexibility in a short series. The roster also includes three catchers, a clear sign the Padres want options everywhere they can find them when every move gets magnified.
One of the bigger developments is Joe Musgroves return to a postseason roster after last pitching in the 2024 wild-card series and missing the 2025 season because of Tommy John surgery. The right-hander is expected to work out of the bullpen, giving San Diego another high-profile arm it can deploy in relief. The Padres also went with Andujar and Sheets, while leaving off Sung-Mun Song, Wandy Peralta and Randy Vasquez, a set of decisions that adds a little more intrigue to how they plan to match up with Chicago. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Fans Have Every Reason To Hate This Wild Card Broadcast Choice
The wild-card series between the Padres and Cubs already has plenty of edge, and NBC Sports is adding a familiar name to the broadcast booth for Game 1. Clayton Kershaw will work as an analyst on the networks Inside the Pitch coverage, a choice that immediately stands out for San Diego fans given how often the left-hander was part of the Dodgers-Padres rivalry over the years.
NBC Sports said the assignment came down to scheduling and Kershaws previous work as an analyst, not any team tie-in. Still, it is hard to miss the timing, with a recently retired Dodger now helping frame one of the Padres biggest games of the season. Whether that creates a little extra juice for viewers or just extra irritation in San Diego, it figures to be one of the more talked-about details around Game 1. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Wild Card Roster Sends A Clear Message To The Padres
The Cubs have set their 26-man roster for the Wild Card Series against the Padres, and the group offers a pretty clear snapshot of how Chicago plans to attack the matchup. Craig Counsell leaned into defense and long-term health as he finalized the list, with 12 pitchers included and late-season acquisition Gabriel Arias among the names heading into the series.
Just as telling were the players left out, with Caleb Thielbar not making the cut and Justin Steele still on rehab. For San Diego, the roster choices suggest Chicago is willing to prioritize clean run prevention and flexible depth over some familiar pieces, a reminder that postseason decisions are often as much about matchups and health as they are about reputation. [Read more 🡒]