Jessica: Seven unanswered runs. That’s what it took for the Reds to put the Padres away in Cincinnati last night. A 7-3 loss that leaves San Diego at 73-67, sitting third in the NL West as we head into the final stretch of September.
Mark: It’s a tough pill to swallow, especially after the optimism coming out of the trade deadline window. But you know how it goes in baseball—tomorrow is a new day. And tomorrow, the New York Yankees come to town.
Jessica: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network, America’s number one daily sports podcast. I’m Jessica, and this is your Padres preview for September 5th, 2026. Joining me as always is our lead analyst, Mark.
Mark: Good evening, everyone. Let’s get right into it. We’ve got three big things covering today’s series preview against the Bronx Bombers.
Jessica: Number one: Walker Buehler takes the mound. We talked about his potential start yesterday, but now we’re looking at the actual matchup angles against a potent Yankees lineup. Number two: The bullpen situation. With Jason Adam on the 60-day IL and the rest of the relief corps banged up, who steps up? And number three: The Ethan Salas effect. Remember when he became the youngest catcher since Ivan Rodriguez? How does that energy translate to a playoff push?
Mark: Exactly. And let’s not forget the context from last night. The offense went silent for six innings before Juan Brito, JJ Bleday, and Héctor Rodríguez finally woke things up with homers. Can they do it again against New York?
Jessica: Stick with us. We’re diving into the pitching probables first. If you’re just joining us, make sure you’re subscribed because we are breaking down every angle of this Yankees-Padres series.
Jessica: Alright, Mark. Let’s talk rotation. Yesterday we speculated on Walker Buehler starting tonight. Is he confirmed? And more importantly, can he handle the Yankees' order?
Mark: Yes, Buehler is the starter. This is huge for San Diego. When we discussed this on the 3rd, the key was limiting walks. The Yankees don’t give you many free passes, so if Buehler keeps his pitch count manageable and doesn’t fall behind in counts, he has a real shot here.
Jessica: Right. Because if he gets into deep counts, you’re putting pressure on a bullpen that is currently decimated by injuries. We mentioned Jason Adam being out for the season on the 60-day IL. Who else is missing?
Mark: Well, looking at the roster, Lucas Giolito is also on the 60-day IL, which hurts depth. But for the bullpen specifically, you have to look at who is actually healthy. You’ve got Mason Miller, Bradgley Rodriguez, Yuki Matsui, and Wandy Peralta. That’s a lean group.
Jessica: And Griffin Canning and Casey Mize are in the mix for spot starts or long relief if needed. But relying on them feels risky against a team like New York. What’s the biggest concern you see with Buehler facing these guys?
Mark: The platoon splits. The Yankees have left-handed power threats that can punish anything over the plate. If Buehler isn’t precise with his off-speed pitches, he’ll get hit. But historically, he’s been strong against lefties when he’s commanding the strike zone.
Jessica: So, precision is the name of the game. No wasted pitches. If he goes eight strong, maybe the bullpen doesn’t even need to be tested heavily. But if he needs nine pitches per inning, we’re in trouble.
Mark: Exactly. Eight innings would be a masterpiece. Anything less, and you’re asking Wade LeBlanc or whoever is left to clean up the mess. It’s a high-leverage spot for Buehler to prove himself as a frontline arm in this pennant race.
Jessica: A lot riding on those first seven innings. But before we move on to the hitters, I want to take a quick breath. If these daily breakdowns are part of your morning routine or commute, a small tip is what keeps us bringing you this free, ad-free content every single day. Please consider chipping in via the link in the episode description. It means the world to us and helps keep the show going strong.
Jessica: Okay, let’s talk offense. Last night, the Padres lost 7-3. The Reds scored seven unanswered runs. Juan Brito hit his first homer, JJ Bleday and Hector Rodriguez went deep. How do you bounce back from a collapse like that?
Mark: You look at the core. Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts. We predicted Machado would drive in multiple runs in the upcoming series back on the 1st. He needs to step up. Against a Yankees pitcher, you can’t afford to be passive. Plate discipline is key.
Jessica: Bogaerts too. His OBP is critical. If he’s getting on base consistently, he puts pressure on the defense. But what about the middle of the order? Austin Hays and Jackson Merrill?
Mark: Merrill is the spark. He’s young, he’s fast, and he changes the geometry of the field. Defensively he’s elite, but offensively, he needs to lay off pitches outside the zone. The Yankees will try to work him deep into counts.
Jessica: And then there’s the kid. Ethan Salas. Remember, he made his debut Wednesday night at 20 years, 93 days old—the youngest catcher since Ivan Rodriguez. Did he get that pinch-hit RBI appearance we hoped for last night?
Mark: He did. It was a great moment for the franchise. But realistically, he’s still adjusting to MLB pitching. The jump in velocity and movement is significant. Still, the confidence boost for the team is immeasurable.
Jessica: It’s amazing to see such youth stepping up while veterans like Ty France and Luis Campusano provide stability. But injuries are still a massive factor. We know about Rengifo’s ACL tear from earlier in the week. Any other notable absences?
Mark: Yeah, the injury list is long. Ke’Bryan Hayes, Spencer Steer, Michael Toglia, Jason Adam, Miguel Andujar, Gavin Sheets, Jeremiah Estrada—all on various IL stints. Wait, hold on. Those are Reds players. My mistake. For the Padres, the main concerns are the bullpen depth and keeping the starters healthy.
Jessica: Ha! Good catch, Mark. Sometimes the lines blur when you’re staring at box scores all day. So, focusing purely on San Diego: the bullpen is the question mark. With Adam gone, who is the setup man?
Mark: Bradgley Rodriguez looks like the likely candidate. He’s got the stuff, but consistency is always the issue with younger relievers. And Mason Miller, if he’s healthy, is the closer. You need Miller to shut it down in the ninth.
Jessica: If Miller can’t go, who takes the ball? That’s the scary part. A shaky ninth inning could cost them the series. Especially against a Yankees lineup that loves to rally late.
Mark: Exactly. Launch angle matters here. If the Padres can’t generate hard contact early, they’ll get worn down. They need to attack the fastball early in the count.
Jessica: We’ll see if that happens tonight. But let’s pivot to the bigger picture. What are the keys to winning this series? We’re talking about a three-game set, right?
Jessica: Yes, three games against New York. Keys to the series. I think the first key is starting pitching depth. If Buehler doesn’t go deep, the rest of the rotation has to step up. Robbie Ray and Randy Vasquez are next in line.
Mark: I agree. And the second key is bullpen management. You cannot burn out your arms. If you use Miller and Rodriguez for four innings each in Game 1, you’re in trouble for Games 2 and 3. They need to be surgical.
Jessica: Surgical strikes. Not a fire hose. And the third key? Offense. Specifically, avoiding the multi-run deficits we saw last night. Seven unanswered runs is a killer. Can the Padres’ bats stay hot?
Mark: They have to. The Yankees aren’t going to give them easy outs. Every pitch has to be earned. And defensively, they need to be sharp. One error can turn into three runs against this team.
Jessica: So, bold prediction time. We predicted a 2-1 series win for the Padres yesterday. Do you still stand by that?
Mark: I do. But I’m tweaking the reasoning. It’s not just about Buehler. It’s about the bullpen holding the line in close games. I think the Padres win two tight ones. Maybe 3-2 and 4-3. Defense wins championships, and this team has the defensive talent to pull it off.
Jessica: Two tight games. High leverage. I love it. I’m sticking with the 2-1 series win as well. The momentum from Salas’ debut and the return of health in the lineup should carry them through.
Mark: Let’s hope so. It’s going to be a fun series to watch. Baseball in September is electric.
Jessica: That’s the wrap for today. Buehler on the mound, the bullpen stretched thin, and the offense looking to bounce back from Cincinnati. Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review us wherever you listen to podcasts. Share this episode with a fellow Padre fan!
Mark: Thanks for listening. Keep the faith. SD '26.
Jessica: Padres Nation, let’s go! We’ll see you tomorrow.