The San Diego Padres’ quest for a solid fifth starter took an unexpected gut punch this past Friday night. Right-hander Matt Waldron, who was prepped and ready to take the mound, ended up sidelined after suffering a mild left oblique strain while warming up in the bullpen. This incident was shared first by AJ Cassavell on X, formerly Twitter, and it has thrown Waldron’s availability for the start of the regular season into serious doubt.
In the moments leading up to the game, excitement hung in the air—it was Waldron’s chance to shine. Yet, everything changed swiftly. As Cassavell detailed, Waldron was checked out by a team trainer in the bullpen and then had to retreat back to the training grounds. “He suffered a mild left oblique strain while warming up,” the team confirmed. “He will be re-evaluated tomorrow.” It’s alarming when something like this happens, especially when players are trying to secure their spots in the lineup for the season ahead.
Padres manager Mike Shildt didn’t sugarcoat the situation and acknowledged that Waldron would need to take some time off. “Obliques take a while,” Shildt explained. “We’ll reassess, but he’s going to need some rest for some period of time, which will be determined.” For Waldron, who had been gearing up for a significant role, the setback is painful—not just physically, but also emotionally.
Being in competition for the No. 5 rotation spot can feel like being on a tightrope, especially with pitchers like Kyle Hart, Stephen Kolek, and Randy Vásquez vying for the same position. Despite a rocky outing against the San Francisco Giants, Waldron has been showing promising signs this spring, particularly with his unique knuckleball. In the previous season, he posted a 4.91 ERA across 26 starts, fanning 133 batters while keeping walks to a manageable 40 in 146.2 innings. That kind of performance makes it particularly disheartening for fans and teammates alike.
With Waldron’s setback, the scenario for the final rotation spot just got a bit clearer but also more urgent. Randy Vásquez made a strong case for himself recently with a stellar performance—five scoreless innings in an intrasquad game against Mariners minor leaguers. This outing could give him the edge needed to snag the role. Meanwhile, both Kolek and Hart are still in the mix, although Hart’s spring training has been interrupted by illness.
Hart, who had a standout season in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) last year with a 2.69 ERA and 182 strikeouts over 157 innings, was initially slated to pitch this Wednesday. However, his bout with the flu might force him to transition to a bullpen role for the start of the season. As reported by The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Kevin Acee, the Padres have been impressed by Hart’s abilities, but they want more assurance before making a final call. “Hart was at camp Monday, but he is still on the mend from the flu and seems unlikely to start on Wednesday,” Acee detailed.
On the other hand, Kolek’s previous season in 2024 wasn’t as sparkling as he would’ve hoped, as injuries hampered his trajectory, resulting in a 5.21 ERA over 46.2 innings. Contrast that with Vásquez, who has already started 20 games in the past season, holding a 4.87 ERA over 98 innings. He’s got experience that, if the Padres lean towards more seasoned options, could play into his favor.
As the Padres gear up for the 2025 season, their starting rotation is now more of a ticking clock, raising questions with every passing day. Waldron’s injury amplifies the uncertainty as Opening Day inches closer. The coaching staff, led by Shildt, finds themselves at a crucial crossroads. Will they turn to the promising yet less seasoned Vásquez, revisit the potential of Kolek, or gamble on the returning Hart? For now, Waldron’s unexpected setback takes center stage, leaving everyone on the edge of their seats as the Padres attempt to navigate these challenging waters and solidify their pitching plans.
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