The San Diego Padres partook in their final dose of split-squad action on Friday night, facing two division rivals in the Rockies and Dodgers. 

In the words of NFL/NBA commentator Kevin Harlan, “I’m calling both games!”

It’s Morphin’ Time pic.twitter.com/qpU7AukpXw

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) March 21, 2026

Home Game – Rockies 9, Padres 3

Miguel Andujar – 0-for-3, Sac Fly 

Jackson Merrill – 1-for-2, Double

Nick Pivetta – 4 IP, 8 H, 5 R (4 ER), 1 BB, 3 K (71 pitches – 51 strikes)

Nick Pivetta started for the Padres in Peoria, allowing four earned runs in four innings. In what is Pivetta’s final spring outing before what is believed to be an Opening Day start, he struck out three batters while averaging 95.1 mph on his four-seam fastball against the Rockies. Pivetta did allow home runs to Hunter Goodman and Ezequiel Tovar, which accounted for two of the eight hits surrendered by the right-hander. 

Goody joining the party ? pic.twitter.com/pzwWImLm2w

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) March 21, 2026

Elsewhere on the pitching staff, Jason Adam made his Cactus League debut. Adam pitched a scoreless inning with one strikeout, throwing 8 of 12 pitches for strikes. The right-hander reliever appears to be in contention to make the Opening Day roster, as a reliever would not require the same ramp-up period as a starter. Bradgley Rodriguez threw another scoreless inning and has now racked up 9.2 innings of one-run baseball this spring. The final Padres bullpen regular to appear was Jeremiah Estrada, who threw a scoreless inning while working around two baserunners. Estrada’s velocity remains down one mile per hour across the board, but is getting closer and closer to in-season form. 

At the dish, most of the projected regulars were in the Padres’ lineup, but the bats were cold against Rockies opener Juan Mejia and reliever Antonio Senzatela. Jackson Merrill’s 101 mph double against Rockies southpaw Brennan Bernardino was the Padres’ first hit of the game, and it remained their final hit until the seventh inning. Marcos Castanon’s seventh-inning double was their next hit of the game. With Alex Verdugo on third and Castanon on second, Miguel Andujar just missed a hanging slider from Valente Bellozo, hitting a sacrifice fly to score Verdugo and the first run of the game. Rodolfo Duran, who came in to catch for Freddy Fermin, homered in the eighth inning to score two runs. Duran has hit .286 with three home runs and a 1.226 OPS in 21 at-bats this spring, and has clearly become the third catcher on the depth chart. 

Road Game – Padres 3, Dodgers 4

Ramon Laureano – 1-for-2, Two-Run Home Run

Bryce Johnson – 1-for-3, Double, Two Runs Scored

Marco Gonzales – 3.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 4 K (82 pitches – 48 strikes)

On the road to face the Dodgers’ A lineup, Marco Gonzales bounced back from a disastrous outing against the Rangers. The crafty left-hander threw 3.2 innings of one-run baseball, striking out four batters. Gonzales leaned on his cutter to lead the way, and his curveball was up 2 mph from his last MLB action. The left-hander is likely ticketed to Triple-A to fill the 2025 Wes Benjamin role, but holding his own against what is projected to be a top lineup in the game certainly helps. Alek Jacob made his first outing since the WBC, recording two outs but leaving with the bases loaded. Logan Gillaspie entered in relief, but walked two batters in the fifth to score two runs. Dodgers prospect Eduardo Quintero drove in the final run for LA on an RBI single in the sixth against Gillaspie. The Padres right-hander pitched 3.2 innings, charged with only one run. Gillaspie struck out three batters, walking three and allowing four hits, all on 63 pitches. His changeup and curveball also drew positive results in the whiff department. Gillaspie could very well be another member of the Padres’ Triple-A rotation to open the season, along with Gonzales and JP Sears. 

At the plate, Ramon Laureano had the biggest swing of the night for the Padres. San Diego’s left fielder launched a hanging slider from Edwin Diaz out to the left field bullpens, scoring two runs. Laureano has played well in spring despite (at times) baffling positioning in the lineup, as he is up to a .286 average and 1.005 OPS in Cactus League play. Bryce Johnson, who is battling for the fourth outfielder spot, went 1-for-3 with a double and scored two runs. Luis Campusano broke out of his 0-fer with a 1-for-3 showing, including a single and a walk. Nick Schnell and Nick Solak each went 1-for-4, and Ty France drove in a ninth-inning run on a sacrifice fly. Kai Murphy also recorded his first hit of the spring. 

ICYMI: Ramon Laureano launched his second homer of the Spring off Dodgers closer Edwin Diaz.

It appears that Laureano’s 2025 adjustments are carrying over, and he will be a key cog in the 2026 Padres lineup pic.twitter.com/2CVN4A4XYr

— Diego Garcia (@StatNerd_Base) March 21, 2026

Next Game Preview & Roster Updates

It was reported late on Friday by the San Diego Union-Tribune that right-hander Walker Buehler would have his contract selected to the 40-man roster. Buehler has pitched well in three Cactus League outings, and for at least the first month of the season will slot in as the Padres’ number four starter. 

On the injury front, Yuki Matsui will open the season on the MLB injured list, per manager Craig Stammen. Matsui’s recovery from an adductor injury will likely not drag on for too long into the season, but it is notable nonetheless. With this news, it can be implied that left-hander Kyle Hart will likely be on the Opening Day roster. 

The Padres return to action Saturday against the Milwaukee Brewers, with first pitch set for 1:10 pm Pacific. Randy Vasquez makes the start for the Padres against former Padre farmhand Robert Gasser. 

Speaking of Padres farmhands, the Padres prospect team heads to Mesa to play the Cubs prospect team in their Spring Breakout game, starting at 6:05 pm Pacific. Left-hander Luis Gutierrez (EVT’s No. 33 Padres prospect) will make the start, with more top prospects set to throw in the game.

#Padres Spring Breakout update:

LHP Luis Gutierrez (EVT No. 33 Padres prospect) is set to start for the Padres Prospects vs Cubs prospects in the Spring Breakout game.

Also confirmed to be pitching:
LHP Kruz Schoolcraft
RHP Miguel Mendez
RHP Lan-Hong Su
RHP Garett Hawkins pic.twitter.com/RfuMBnFmgL

— Diego Garcia (@StatNerd_Base) March 20, 2026

Diego Garcia

A born and raised San Diegan, Diego Garcia is a lifetime Padres fan and self-proclaimed baseball nerd. Diego wrote about baseball on his own site between 2021-22 before joining the East Village Times team in 2024. He also posts baseball content on his YouTube channel “Stat Nerd Baseball”, creating content around trades, hypotheticals, player analyses, the San Diego Padres, and MLB as a whole.

A 2024 graduate of San Diego State, Diego aims to grow as a writer and content creator in the baseball community.