The Padres were back in action Thursday night after their first off day of the spring on Wednesday. They faced off against the Kansas City Royals at Peoria Stadium. 2025 All-Star, left-hander Kris Bubic started for KC, as German Marquez made his third outing for the spring for San Diego.

Here are the starters from tonight’s game.

Thursday night lineup. pic.twitter.com/PPDgnJGgKk

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) March 12, 2026

Marquez’s rocky outing 

Longtime Rockie, German Marquez had a wild outing. Marquez would have to be relieved after not being able to get out of his first inning of work. He started his day on the wrong foot, allowing the first four batters to reach on: a single, a hit by pitch, a two RBI double, and a walk. Marquez got the next two batters out, but then walked the next, where he would get relieved by minor leaguer Sam Whiting. Marquez, competing for a rotation spot, would come out to pitch in the second. Getting the first two batters in Nick Loftin and Josh Rojas out, he would allow the following three batters to reach: a single, a walk, and an RBI single. Marquez then got the next Royal to ground out to end the inning and his outing. Marquez ended his outing outing pitching 1 2/3 innings, allowing four hits, six earned runs, walking four Royals,s and striking out a batter. Just half of Marquez’s 58 pitches were strikes.

Bullpen looking excellent 

Following his breakout season in 2025, Adrian Morejon will carry a large role in 2026. Morejon was fantastic in his efficient two innings of work in the third and fourth innings. He retired all six men he faced, striking out four straight to end his night. The Cuban-born left-hander threw 23 pitches, 16 of them for strikes. His sinker topped out at 99.4 mph.

More pure filth from Adrian Morejon.

Here’s an 80-grade changeup v. Nick Loftin:

91.7 mph
3.7” iVB
-14.9” Horizontal Break
1159 rpms
6.2 vRel pic.twitter.com/M0NlaLR1WP

— Clark Fahrenthold (@CFahrenthold11) March 13, 2026

Freddy Fermin overturned two strike-three calls in the fourth inning using the new ABS challenge system that will be in effect in MLB this season.

David Morgan pitched the ninth for the Padres. Morgan allowed two hits while striking out two batters, one by the curveball and the other by the high fastball.

Sears gets hit around

.Another starter in the mix for a rotation role for the big league club pitched on Thursday. JP Sears pitched innings five, six, seven, and eight. Sears allowed five hits, three earned runs, while striking out six men. Continuing to struggle this spring and having minor league options available, JP Sears could see himself falling short of the Opening Day roster. Sears was inefficient at getting Royals’ hitters out, throwing 77 pitches, 49 for strikes. He ended his night on a high note, inducing a one-two-three inning in the top of the eighth.

Kansas City pitching silences Padres’ bats

San Diego’s bats had a hard time getting going, tallying only four hits. Fermin continues to stay hot at the plate, hitting an opposite-field double off Bubic in the third inning. Ramon Laureano drove in the lone Padres run in the sixth, with a solo home run to left center field off of Steven Cruz. Non-roster invitee Nick Schnell keeps on swinging a hot bat, roping a double in the ninth that came off the bat at 114.7 mph.

SDP – Ramón Laureano Solo HR (1)
? Spring Training ?

? 371 ft | ? 103.6 mph | ? 25°
⚾️ 96 mph cutter (KC – RHP Steven Cruz)
?️ Out in 10/30 MLB parks

KC (10) @ SDP (1)
? 6th#ForTheFaithful pic.twitter.com/EJ1bLuWEG6

— MLB Home Runs (@MLBHRs_) March 13, 2026

Tomorrow in Mesa

The Padres will head to Mesa on Friday afternoon to face off against the Athletics’ split squad. Michael King will start for the Padres and will look to for a betting outing this time around, while Aaron Civale will start on the mound for the A’s. The game at Hohokam Stadium will start at 1:05 PM PT/MT. For in-market viewers, the game will be available to watch on Padres.TV and for out-of-market viewers, it will be available on MLB Network. Listeners can tune in to 97.3 The Fan.

Angel Flores

Angel grew up a San Diego sports fan, following the Padres, SDSU athletics, San Diego FC, as well as the Chargers. He is currently a third year community college student, and will transfer to SDSU to pursue a career in Journalism.