Padres Struggle Against Top Pitchers Despite Ownership Change

New ownership group's deep pockets could help Padres improve rotation, but team still faces challenges against elite starters

Apr. 18, 2026 at 1:30pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a Padres baseball game broken down into overlapping planes of navy blue, orange, and white, capturing the complex and multifaceted nature of the team's struggles against elite starting pitchers.The Padres' battle against top-tier pitchers is a fractured, multi-dimensional challenge that requires strategic maneuvering and perseverance.Anaheim Today

The Padres' sale to a new ownership group for a record $3.9 billion is expected to provide the team with more financial resources to improve the roster, particularly the starting rotation. However, the team has continued to struggle against some of the game's best pitchers, including a tough outing by Matt Waldron in his season debut. The Padres have faced six of the 39 qualifying starting pitchers with an ERA below 3.00 this season, with four of them throwing quality starts against San Diego.

Why it matters

The Padres' ability to compete against top-tier pitchers will be crucial as they aim to return to the playoffs. While the new ownership group's deep pockets could help the team acquire more talented starters, the current rotation has shown it can be vulnerable against elite competition. Overcoming this challenge will be key to the Padres' long-term success.

The details

In his season debut, Padres pitcher Matt Waldron was charged with six runs in 3⅔ innings, continuing a trend of struggles against top pitchers. The Padres have faced six of the 39 qualifying starting pitchers with an ERA below 3.00 this season, with four of them throwing quality starts against San Diego. Overall, these pitchers have posted a 2.07 ERA against the Padres. Manager Craig Stammen acknowledged the team's need to figure out how to beat the best pitchers, saying 'If we want to be the best, we've got to figure out a way to beat the best.'

  • Matt Waldron made his season debut on April 17, 2026.
  • The Padres have faced six of the 39 qualifying starting pitchers with an ERA below 3.00 so far this season.

The players

Matt Waldron

A Padres pitcher who struggled in his season debut, allowing six runs in 3⅔ innings.

Craig Stammen

The Padres manager, who acknowledged the team's need to figure out how to beat the best pitchers they face.

Xander Bogaerts

A Padres player who noted that the team just completed a sweep of the Mariners, who had 'three aces' in their starting rotation.

José Soriano

The pitcher who faced the Padres, lowering his MLB-best ERA to 0.28 with 5⅔ scoreless innings.

Paul Skenes

The reigning National League Cy Young winner, who has allowed just three runs in 17⅓ innings over his past three starts after having a rough season opener.

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What they’re saying

“'If we want to be the best, we've got to figure out a way to beat the best.'”

— Craig Stammen, Padres Manager

“'Every (starter) from Seattle is f—g great. Just because we lost to these guys' ace; Seattle had three aces.'”

— Xander Bogaerts, Padres Player

What’s next

The Padres will look to bounce back against another tough starter in their next game, as they continue to face a challenging early-season schedule.

The takeaway

The Padres' struggles against elite pitchers highlight the need for the team to improve its starting rotation, which could be addressed by the new ownership group's deep pockets. However, the team has shown resilience in the face of these challenges, and their ability to compete against the best pitchers will be crucial to their long-term success.