Vasquez shines in a commanding shutout performance, securing the San Diego Padres' first victory. The lineup shifts also spark offensive life in San Diego.
The first two games of the 2026 MLB season didn't go very well for the San Diego Padres.
Nick Pivetta lasted just three innings on Opening Day in an 8-2 loss to Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers.
Michael King pitched in the second game, and he threw five shutout innings before the bullpen blew a lead, and the Tigers ended up winning 5-2.
On Saturday, the Padres got their first win of the season in a 3-0 shutout in the final game of the series against the Tigers.
Randy Vasquez took the mound for San Diego against Jack Flaherty, and Vasquez picked up right where he left off in 2025.
Vasquez threw six shutout innings, giving up just two hits with three walks and eight strikeouts to be the pitcher of record.
Kyle Hart made his first appearance in relief, and he threw two scoreless innings with zero hits.
Then, Mason Miller came in to get the save, and he struck out two batters as he introduced his new entrance song.
Craig Stammen changed the lineup again, this time putting Jake Cronenworth in the leadoff spot with Fernando Tatis Jr. at No. 2 and Xander Bogaerts sliding down to the five-hole.
Tatis had an RBI single, and Ramon Laureano had three hits with Cronenworth scoring a pair of runs in the new-look San Diego lineup.
Nick Castellanos earned his first start of the season, and he slid in at DH as Miguel Andujar held the spot in the first two games. Castellanos had just one hit in four at-bats, and Stammen had him in the No. 8 spot right above Freddy Fermin, so the first-year manager is experimenting plenty early on.
What's Next For San Diego
In an odd scenario, the Padres have Sunday off. Yes, really.
The Padres stay home and begin a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants, who lost three straight to the New York Yankees in a poor start to the Tony Vitello era.
Walker Buehler is slated to start on Monday, with German Marquez potentially throwing on Tuesday.
After that, the Padres begin a six-game road trip against the Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates, which means Bogaerts returning to Boston.
So, Stammen gets his first win as Padres manager, Vasquez starts the year off strong, and the Padres fans came in full force in the first weekend of the 2026 campaign.