The San Diego Padres are on the verge of clinching a playoff spot, with a thrilling 96.5 percent chance as of Thursday’s game against the New York Mets, a stark contrast to their disappointing season in 2023.
In light of this promising outlook, the Padres are playing it safe this year.
On Thursday, they sent starting pitcher Matt Waldron down to Triple-A El Paso, a decision that raised eyebrows.
Despite being patient with the 27-year-old righty, who boasted a team-high 26 starts this season, his performance took a nosedive. Waldron holds a 7-11 record with a 4.79 earned-run average.
However, examining the situation closer reveals the team’s urgency to capitalize on their strong position.
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Waldron’s recent outings have been less than stellar. Since clocking an ERA of 3.43 on June 24, his stats have plummeted to 2-5 with a 7.09 ERA (5.32 FIP).
His latest performance against the Minnesota Twins was particularly brutal, surrendering 12 hits and 10 runs across just 4.1 innings in an 11-4 defeat.
“I know I belong here,” Waldron expressed to reporters after the game. “I’ve got to get back to work and refine my skills.”
For now, it seems the Padres see things differently.
Waldron, an eighth-round draft pick, made his major league debut at 26 after a challenging start in previous seasons. In 2023, he managed a rotation spot as the Padres moved on from free-agent pitchers Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo.
Managing to hold onto his spot for most of the season, Waldron emerged as a key player for the Padres, who were competing fiercely in the NL West.
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This year, Waldron surprised everyone by ramping up his knuckleball usage, setting him apart as the sole MLB pitcher regularly using this unique pitch.
He’ll now aim to reclaim his place in the Padres’ rotation from the minors.