The Padres and Los Angeles Angels faced off on a warm Wednesday afternoon at Peoria Stadium.

With the Padres and Angels both starting at least seven projected major league players, and both teams starting extremely gifted arms, it was sure to be a fun game to watch.

Machado and Merrill flop two and three.

On the first Wednesday of the Cactus League season, Craig Stammen provided a new version of a lineup filled with mostly guys we will see on the Opening Day roster. In both games prior, Bogaerts, Merrill, Machado, and Tatis Jr. went in that order; today was different.

King on the mound. pic.twitter.com/QQTU1GQ96I

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) February 25, 2026

King stuff

Competing for the Opening Day start, Michael King looked great in his first start of the spring, retiring the first six batters faced.

To lead off the third inning, Christian Moore turned on a signature Michael King sinker and sent it over the left field fence. Besides that, King dazzled on the mound. He struck out four Angels, allowed two hits, and one earned run, in 2 2/3 innings pitched. Ramping up before the season, King’s day ended at 37 pitches, with 26 strikes.

Michael King looks back at full strength and ready to lead the Padres rotation alongside Nick Pivetta.

The four-seam and sweeper are still electric, and as he gets the feel back for the changeup, that grade should climb right with it. pic.twitter.com/UwM8l1LxzM

— Pitch Profiler (@pitchprofiler) February 25, 2026

Subs coming through

The Padres rallied for four runs in the bottom of the sixth off Chris Cortez.

To lead off the bottom half, Manny Machado walked, and Carlos Rodriguez and Fernando Tatis Jr. followed with singles. Following the Tatis base hit, Nick Castellanos and Pablo Reyes both walked, to plate in two runs and made it a 2-1 Padres lead.

Later in the inning, Ty France had his chance to do damage with the bases loaded with two outs. He tapped his helmet to challenge a borderline strike three call that would’ve ended the inning. The call was overturned as a ball, and the next pitch was hit up the middle for a two RBI single. This made it 4-1, Padres.

Vive la France! pic.twitter.com/Luza15QHNg

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) February 25, 2026

The surplus of arms used

With King pitching 2 2/3 strong innings, the bullpen had to cover 6 1/3 innings. After getting Nolan Schanuel to ground out to Xander Bogaerts to end the top of the third, Alek Jacob was impressive in the fourth inning. The Team Italy representative in the upcoming World Baseball Classic struck out Jorge Soler, Jo Adell, and Josh Lowe in order and all swinging. Jacob is an interesting case for the big-league club, as he struggled in 2025, following a successful 2024 season where he made the Divisional Series roster versus L.A.

Ty Adcock and Kyle Hart both made appearances, each of them striking out an Angel, in their clean innings of work. Adcock completed his inning in 12 pitches, with Hart finishing his in 18. In the top of the seventh, Omar Cruz allowed two solo home runs to Jo Adell and Omar Martinez. Following the home runs, Cruz sent down Christian Moore and Denzer Guzman swinging to finish out his inning on a high note.

Jagger Haynes, starter of the Cactus League opener last Friday, pitched the eighth inning in relief, allowing two hits and no earned runs. New father, Logan Gillaspie, closed out the game for the Friars in the ninth inning. He struck out the side, throwing a zero on the board in a clean inning.

Two baggers for everyone

In the bottom third frame, Jackson Merrill hit a 107-mph stinger to the left-center gap off veteran right-hander Hunter Strickland.

In the eighth inning, three Padres produced doubles to widen the lead. Left fielder Jase Bowen split the left field and center field gap for a ground-rule double that got wedged into the wall. 21st-ranked prospect in San Diego’s system has had a red-hot spring up to this point and added to that in the bottom of the eighth with an RBI double to plate Bowen. Mason McCoy, with a stellar defensive play at shortstop in the seventh, followed it with a double down the right field line to plate No. 1 Padres prospect, Ethan Salas.

Double trouble. pic.twitter.com/LkBbyM4BNt

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) February 25, 2026

Tomorrow in Goodyear

The Padres will take on the Cincinnati Reds, Thursday afternoon at 12:05 PST/1:10 MST.

Nick Pivetta will make his 2026 debut for the Padres, as electric right-hander Chase Burns will start for the Reds. There will be no video webcast, but audio will be available on 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.