The San Diego Padres have changed their pitching plans for Saturday’s matchup with the Cleveland Guardians, naming veteran left-hander Wandy Peralta as the emergency starter.
The decision replaces right-hander Randy Vásquez, who was originally scheduled to take the mound. Peralta’s move into the starting role gives San Diego a different look as it tries to extend its winning streak and strengthen its position in the National League playoff race.
Peralta enters the matchup with a 2-2 record and a 3.39 ERA this season. The veteran has primarily worked out of the bullpen, making his move into an opening role a notable adjustment for manager Craig Stammen.
Vásquez could still play a significant role despite losing the starting assignment. The right-hander is 8-6 with a 4.16 ERA and 66 strikeouts across 106.2 innings and could be used as a bulk reliever behind Peralta.
San Diego has relied on pitching flexibility while dealing with injuries to important arms. Jason Adam remains on the 60-day injured list with a shoulder strain, while Joe Musgrove continues his recovery through a minor league rehab assignment.
The Padres enter Saturday with a 66-57 record and sit second in the NL West while holding a Wild Card position. They have also won 16 of their last 20 games, giving them considerable momentum heading into the matchup.
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Cleveland, meanwhile, is 59-64 and fourth in the AL Central. The Guardians are also trying to end a four-game home losing streak after San Diego rallied for a 7-5 victory in Friday's series opener.
Peralta’s role could ultimately determine how aggressively the Padres need to use their bullpen. If he can handle the early innings, Vásquez can provide length while allowing San Diego to preserve its higher-leverage relievers.
The matchup also gives the Padres another opportunity to build on their recent surge. With the postseason race tightening, San Diego will be looking for another strong performance against Cleveland to move closer to securing its playoff position.
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