Padres' Struggling Ace Looks to Bounce Back After Rough Start

Former Dodgers World Series champion Walker Buehler has struggled mightily in his first two starts with the Padres.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 8:05pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball pitcher's motion broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of muted, earthy colors, conveying the disjointed nature of the pitcher's early-season struggles.A cubist interpretation of a struggling pitcher's delivery captures the fractured nature of his early-season struggles.San Diego Today

The San Diego Padres are off to a 5-5 start in the 2026 MLB season, and one of their biggest issues has been the poor performance of offseason acquisition Walker Buehler. The former Dodgers World Series champion has been a major disappointment so far, reaching just 6.2 innings while allowing 7 runs on 8 hits, including 1 home run, 5 walks, and 7 strikeouts. Buehler's ERA sits at 9.45 with a 1.95 WHIP and -0.2 WAR. The Padres are hoping Buehler can turn things around in his next start against the Rockies at Petco Park.

Why it matters

The Padres' rotation has been hit hard by injuries, with Yu Darvish's career in jeopardy, Joe Musgrove still recovering from Tommy John surgery, and Griffin Canning on a lengthy rehab stint. This puts even more pressure on Buehler to perform and stabilize the rotation, especially with the Padres' bullpen being one of the best in the league. If Buehler can't get on track, it could spell trouble for the Padres' playoff hopes early in the season.

The details

Buehler, who signed with the Padres this past offseason, has struggled mightily in his first two starts of the 2026 season. In his debut at home against the Giants and then on the road in Boston against his former Red Sox team, Buehler has failed to make it past the 6th inning, allowing 7 runs on 8 hits, including 1 home run, 5 walks, and 7 strikeouts. His ERA sits at an unsightly 9.45 with a 1.95 WHIP and -0.2 WAR. The Padres are hoping Buehler can turn things around in his next start against the Rockies at Petco Park, where he'll need to pitch at least 5 solid innings to give the team a chance to win.

  • Buehler made his Padres debut at home against the Giants.
  • Buehler then pitched on the road in Boston against his former Red Sox team.
  • Buehler's next start will be against the Rockies at Petco Park this weekend.

The players

Walker Buehler

A right-handed pitcher who signed with the Padres this past offseason after winning a World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024. He has struggled mightily in his first two starts of the 2026 season.

Yu Darvish

A Padres starting pitcher whose career is uncertain due to a season-ending injury.

Joe Musgrove

A Padres starting pitcher who is still working his way back from Tommy John surgery.

Griffin Canning

A Padres starting pitcher who is on a lengthy rehab stint in the minors.

German Marquez

A Padres starting pitcher who pitched very well in his last start against the Pirates.

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What’s next

Buehler's next start will be against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park this weekend. The Padres are hoping he can turn things around and pitch at least 5 solid innings to give the team a chance to win.

The takeaway

The Padres' rotation has been hit hard by injuries, putting even more pressure on Buehler to perform and stabilize the rotation. If Buehler can't get on track, it could spell trouble for the Padres' playoff hopes early in the season. However, the Padres are still early in the year, and Buehler is a smart pitcher who knows what he needs to do to turn things around.