Padres Seek 'Fifth Starter' in Rotation, Whatever That Means

The designation is nebulous as the Padres look to fill out their starting rotation with multiple pitchers.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 10:20pm

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The Padres are currently evaluating five pitchers to potentially fill the fifth spot in their starting rotation, but the team acknowledges that the "fifth starter" role is often filled by a group effort rather than a single pitcher. Pitching coach Ruben Niebla says the Padres are looking for a fifth starter who can "keep us in games and give us innings when we need to," even if they may not be as talented as the team's top starters.

Why it matters

The Padres are aiming to be a playoff contender this season, so the performance of their fifth starter will be crucial. In recent years, many teams have had to rely on multiple pitchers to fill the fifth starter role due to injuries and other factors, so the Padres are preparing for a similar scenario.

The details

The Padres currently have five pitchers vying for the fifth starter spot: Walker Buehler, Germán Márquez, Triston McKenzie, Marco Gonzales, and JP Sears. They may also consider other options like Griffin Canning, Matt Waldron, Jackson Wolf, and Miguel Mendez. The team is looking for a pitcher who can consistently go at least five innings while limiting damage, as they were 63-24 last season when their starter went at least five innings and allowed three or fewer runs.

  • The Padres' fifth starter competition is taking place during spring training in 2026.

The players

Ruben Niebla

The Padres' pitching coach.

Craig Stammen

The Padres' manager.

Walker Buehler

One of the pitchers competing for the fifth starter role with the Padres.

Germán Márquez

One of the pitchers competing for the fifth starter role with the Padres.

Triston McKenzie

One of the pitchers competing for the fifth starter role with the Padres.

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What they’re saying

“Hopefully we get into a spot where you don't know the difference between your five and your three, your three and your one, your two and your four. You're just deploying a good pitcher out there.”

— Ruben Niebla, Padres Pitching Coach

“If you're expecting to be a playoff-contending team — and there are tiers to being that playoff-contending team — your fifth starter has to be a guy that you can depend on.”

— Ruben Niebla, Padres Pitching Coach

“He's the ace on the day he's pitching. That's the No. 1 mentality for that guy. You don't want to ever limit anybody when they take a big-league mound. You want them to feel like they're our best option, and that guy is on that day.”

— Craig Stammen, Padres Manager

What’s next

The Padres will continue to evaluate their fifth starter options throughout spring training, with the goal of having a clear plan in place by the start of the regular season.

The takeaway

The Padres' search for a fifth starter highlights the reality that this role is often filled by a group effort rather than a single dominant pitcher. The team is looking for a reliable arm who can consistently keep them in games, even if they may not be as talented as the top starters in the rotation.