Padres Select Robbie Ray
San Diego Padres Name Robbie Ray to Start NLDS Opener Against Milwaukee Brewers
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Key Points
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Padres manager Craig Stammen said postseason managers are likely to use their bullpens aggressively, adding, “It’s nice to be aggressive when you know you have a good bullpen.”
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Ray finished the season with 84 walks, the most in MLB, over 165⅔ innings split between San Francisco and San Diego; the NLDS will be his first postseason start since 2022.
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Michael King logged 185 innings without missing a start during the regular season and has a 2.05 career postseason ERA, with 27 strikeouts and four walks in five appearances.
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Walker Buehler had already made a quality start against Milwaukee in August, allowing one run over six innings, before the Padres chose Ray to start Game 1.
The San Diego Padres will start left-hander Robbie Ray in Game 1 of their National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday, a surprising choice over Walker Buehler ModBee. Ray finished the regular season with a 3.59 ERA but struggled badly after joining San Diego mid-season, yet manager Mike Shildt is banking on postseason intensity to fuel the veteran pitcher San Diego Union-Tribune.
The Padres are riding high after crushing the Chicago Cubs 8-0 in their Wild Card opener, with Fernando Tatis Jr. launching a leadoff home run and reliever Michael King nearly throwing a no-hitter into the seventh MLB. King will start Game 2 on just three days' rest, while Nick Pivetta takes Game 3 SportsNet.
Ray's Uneven Season Sets Up High Stakes
Robbie Ray led all of Major League Baseball with 84 walks over 165⅔ innings this season, split between San Francisco and San Diego ModBee. Since arriving with the Padres, Ray made nine starts and posted worse numbers, making this Game 1 assignment a bold bet by Shildt San Diego Union-Tribune. The left-hander hasn't started a postseason game since 2022, adding another layer of uncertainty to the Padres' Game 1 strategy.
Padres Will Lean Heavily on Dominant Bullpen
With Ray's shakiness, expect the Padres to pull him early and turn to their elite relief corps, which carried them through the Wild Card series. Manager Craig Stammen emphasized that postseason baseball demands aggressive bullpen usage MLB. "It's nice to be aggressive when you know you have a good bullpen," Stammen said MLB.
Michael King logged 185 innings without missing a start during the regular season and owns a 2.05 career postseason ERA with 27 strikeouts and just 4 walks in 5 appearances SportsNet. His durability makes him a perfect Game 2 starter on short rest, giving San Diego two strong arms to control the first two games at home.
Buehler Benched Despite Success vs. Brewers
Walker Buehler made a quality start against Milwaukee back in August, allowing just one run over six innings ModBee. Yet the Padres still opted for Ray over Buehler in Game 1, signaling they want to save the right-hander for later in the series where his recent form looks sharper San Diego Union-Tribune. Pivetta is expected to take Game 3, with Buehler remaining available as a crucial weapon if the series extends beyond Game 4.
Braves Survive Wild Card Opener Against Phillies
In the other National League Wild Card game, the Atlanta Braves came back to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-3 Yahoo Sports. Austin Riley delivered the decisive blow with a three-run homer in the eighth inning, lifting Atlanta into a division series matchup Yahoo Sports.
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