Right-hander Matt Waldron is not in the San Diego Padres‘ lineup on Wednesday, May 6, with the team opting to start righty Bradgley Rodriguez against the San Francisco Giants.
The 29-year-old Waldron was slated to take the ball for the fourth time this season. Instead, he’s a candidate to operate as a bulk reliever. Waldron has been crushed for 15 earned runs over 13.2 innings. Offseason surgery delayed his start to the season.
Rodriguez is making the first start of his big-league career. The 22-year-old reliever has pitched strictly out of the bullpen since making his debut in 2025. Rodriguez has recorded more than three outs in seven of his 14 appearances this season. He could work longer than a typical one-inning opener.
San Diego Padres Lineup Update: Matt Waldron Will Not Start Against the Giants
Waldron briefly debuted with the Padres in 2023. He became a mainstay in the rotation the following season, making 27 appearances (26 starts) across a career-high 146.2 innings. Waldron delivered a 4.91 ERA in his first real taste of the majors. The righty struck out nearly a batter per inning while keeping walks in check.
After missing significant time in 2025 due to injury, Waldron opened the year on the edge of contention for a big-league roster spot. Surgery shortly before the campaign made it easy for San Diego to break camp without him. Once healthy, Waldron put together three scoreless appearances in the minors. The flawless performance was enough for the Padres to give him another shot with the MLB squad. Waldron made his season debut against the Los Angeles Angels. He was tattooed for six earned runs over 3.2 innings in a blowout loss. The veteran didn’t fare much better next time out, permitting another half-dozen runs to the Colorado Rockies.
Waldron is known for his knuckleball, but he’s expanded his arsenal this season. He’s reintegrated a cutter while boosting his sweeper and four-seamer usage. Waldron has thrown the knuckler just 33.3% of the time, his lowest mark since his rookie year. He’s done a nice job limiting hard contact, but his strikeout rate has tumbled to 11.6%. Waldron’s 14.6% whiff rate ranks in the third percentile.
Could Rodriguez Stretch Out as a Starter?
Rodriguez has been phenomenal in both of his big-league campaigns. He notched a 1.17 ERA with a massive 29.0% strikeout rate in 2025. The righty hasn’t missed bats at the same clip this year, but he’s continued to keep runs off the board. Rodriguez has been scored upon in just two outings all season.
The pitch mix is diverse enough for Rodriguez to work in longer stints, potentially. He throws four different offerings at least 11% of the time. Rodriguez uses a changeup as his primary pitch, which is a bit unique, but has worked out well. Opponents are yet to get a hit off of Rodriguez’s changeup in 22 at-bats ending with the pitch. The righty also has a sinker, four-seamer, and cutter. Three variations of a fastball, plus an elite changeup, might not be enough for Rodriguez to become a full-time starter. He probably needs to add a breaking ball to flesh out the repertoire.
Padres Make Lineup Change, Swap Out Matt Waldron Against Giants