Walker Buehler started for the San Diego Padres on Wednesday afternoon as they tried to stop a three-game losing streak against the Philadelphia Phillies in San Diego. The game was scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET.
Buehler entered with a 3-2 record and a 5.05 ERA, while Cristopher Sanchez took the ball for Philadelphia carrying a 5-2 mark and a 1.62 ERA. The matchup put two teams with different recent arcs in the same frame, with San Diego at 31-23 and second in the NL West, and Philadelphia at 28-27 and third in the NL East.
The Padres needed a clean turn from their rotation, and Buehler’s start came with a roster that has been patched together by injuries. Luis Campusano was on the 10-day injured list with a toe injury, Jake Cronenworth was on the 7-day injured list with a concussion, and Joe Musgrove, Bryan Hoeing and Jhony Brito were all on the 60-day injured list with elbow injuries.
San Diego’s list also included German Marquez on the 15-day injured list with a forearm injury, Nick Pivetta on the 15-day injured list with an elbow injury, Matt Waldron on the 15-day injured list with an arm injury, Kyle Backhus on the 15-day injured list with an elbow injury and Zach Pop on the 15-day injured list with a calf injury. Philadelphia had its own concern with Brandon Marsh listed day-to-day because of a finger injury.
That injury burden matters because it leaves little margin for a team already trying to halt a skid. For the Padres, the task was straightforward: get a strong start, steady the lineup and avoid letting one rough week become something larger.
