Former Nationals Players Return to Nationals Park in Padres' Victory Washington -- Almost a decade after their initial arrival, Lucas Giolito and Craig Stammen returned to Nationals Park as members of the San Diego Padres, contributing to a 7-5 victory over their former team. Giolito, now 31, made his third start for San Diego since joining as a late free-agent signing in April, while Stammen, the Padres’ manager, spent his first seven Major League seasons with Washington. Their return marked a bittersweet reunion, as the Padres secured a win that added new memories to the storied ballpark. Giolito’s journey to Nationals Park began in 2016, when he made his big league debut at age 21. The right-hander, then regarded as baseball’s top prospect, pitched four clean innings before a rainout halted his debut. His return to the park in 2026 was marred by struggles, as he allowed four earned runs in 2 2/3 innings. His fastball velocity peaked at 91.8 mph, and nearly 65% of his pitches were offspeed, with just over half being strikes. “The stuff we’ve been trying to work on is not taking hold at game speed,” Giolito admitted, acknowledging the difficulty of translating practice to performance. The Padres’ victory was fueled by a clutch seventh-inning two-run homer from Jackson Merrill, who described the hit as “the hardest I’ve hit a ball in a long time.” Merrill’s contribution helped San Diego overcome a 5-3 deficit, securing a win that highlighted the team’s resilience. The game also featured a strong bullpen performance, with the Padres allowing just one run across 6 1/3 innings. Mason Miller closed the game with four outs for his 17th save, ensuring the Padres’ dominance in the late innings. Stammen’s return to Nationals Park carried deeper significance.#san_diego_padres #craig_stammen #jackson_merrill #lucas_giolito #nationals_park
Padres' offense waking up just in time as torrid Pirates await The San Diego Padres are showing signs of improvement after a slow start to the 2026 season as they prepare to face the Pittsburgh Pirates in a crucial three-game series. The Padres, who had struggled with an anemic offense entering the weekend, managed to secure their first series win of the year by defeating the Boston Red Sox in two consecutive games, including an 8-6 victory on Sunday. This marked a significant turnaround for the team, which had previously posted a major-league-worst .190 batting average and .553 OPS. The offensive resurgence was led by key players such as Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, and Jackson Merrill, who combined for eight of the Padres' 12 hits in the Sunday game. Machado hit his first home run of the season, helping the Padres score the most runs they had in a game that year. This was only the second time in nine games that San Diego managed to score more than three runs, signaling a potential turning point in their season. The Padres' offensive surge will be tested on Monday as they take on the Pirates, who have been dominant in recent weeks. The Pirates, riding a five-game winning streak, have shown explosive power at the plate, fueled by offseason acquisitions like Brandon Lowe and Ryan O'Hearn, as well as the strong performance of Oneil Cruz. The team has already hit 12 home runs in nine games, a stark contrast to their previous season. The Pirates' offensive firepower is further bolstered by the contributions of players like Nick Yorke, who stepped in after infielder Jared Triolo was placed on the 10-day injured list. Yorke delivered a walk-off hit in Saturday's game against the Orioles and added another hit on Sunday.#manny_machado #san_diego_padres #pittsburgh_pirates #jackson_merrill #xander_bogaerts
Jackson Merrill Sends Message After Padres Opening Day Decision The San Diego Padres entered the 2026 season with cautious optimism, despite a relatively quiet offseason shaped by financial constraints. The team’s hopes for success in the coming year are largely tied to its offensive lineup, which features several All-Star players, including center fielder Jackson Merrill. At 22 years old, Merrill remains one of the club’s most vital young talents, and his future with the franchise is now firmly secured after signing a nine-year, $135 million contract extension in April 2025. The deal has already proven to be a strong foundation for the Padres, as Merrill has exceeded expectations even during a challenging 2025 season. Despite facing injuries throughout the year, Merrill managed a .264 batting average, .317 on-base percentage, .774 OPS, 16 home runs, and 67 RBIs in 115 games. His performance underscores his value as a cornerstone of the Padres’ offense, and the team views his health as critical to achieving its goals in 2026. The club believes that a fully recovered Merrill will be essential to maximizing its potential, especially as it aims to build on its recent success and compete for a postseason berth. The Padres wrapped up spring training on Tuesday, setting the stage for the start of the 2026 MLB season. Their home opener against the Detroit Tigers will take place on Thursday at Petco Park, marking the beginning of a three-game series. The team’s decision on its Opening Day starter was announced on Monday, with the choice between Michael King and Nick Pivetta ultimately favoring the latter. Pivetta’s selection makes sense given his dominant performance in his first season with the Padres. In 2025, he posted a 2.87 ERA across 31 starts, striking out 190 batters in 181 2/3 innings.#san_diego_padres #nick_pivetta #michael_king #jackson_merrill #petco_park
