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Padres' Matt Waldron: Activated ahead of season debut
Rotowire
The Padres activated Waldron (lower body) from the 15-day injured list Friday.
Waldron is set to make his season debut Friday with a start on the road against the Angels. The knuckleballer got a late start to the season after having hemorrhoid surgery in late February, but he looked sharp in a rehab assignment at Triple-A El Paso, tossing 12 scoreless innings with a 12:1 K:BB. Waldron will have the opportunity to make additional starts for the Padres if he pitches well.
The Padres are expected to activate Waldron (lower body) from the 15-day injured list and have him make a start during this weekend's series versus the Angels in Anaheim, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
After undergoing hemorrhoid surgery in late February, Waldron was eased along slowly in spring training and was placed on the injured list prior to Opening Day. He was cleared to begin a minor-league rehab assignment when Triple-A El Paso opened its season in late March, and he's looked sharp over the course of three starts with the affiliate, tossing 12 scoreless innings while allowing just seven hits and posting a 12:1 K:BB. Waldron has since rejoined the Padres and is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday, which likely puts him on track to start Friday's series opener. The right-hander will be joining the rotation as a replacement for Nick Pivetta (elbow) and should be in line for multiple turns with Pivetta facing an uncertain timeline for a return.
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Padres' Matt Waldron: Makes rehab start Friday
Rotowire
Waldron (lower body) tossed three scoreless innings in a rehab start with Triple-A El Paso on Friday, allowing two hits and striking out three batters.
Waldron is currently on the major-league 15-day IL while he recovers from hemorrhoid surgery. The knuckleballer threw 37 pitches (25 strikes) in Friday's rehab appearance, so he seems to be progressing well. Waldron will likely serve as a long reliever out of the Padres' bullpen once he's activated.
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Padres' Matt Waldron: Opens season on 15-day IL
Rotowire
The Padres placed Waldron (lower body) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Waldron, who underwent hemorrhoid surgery in late February, is still in the process of getting built back up again and isn't expected to be ready to return from the IL until around mid-April at the earliest, per MLB.com. Waldron was able to pitch in two Cactus League games before the end of spring training, so he could be cleared to head out on a rehab assignment with Triple-A El Paso in the near future.
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Padres' Matt Waldron: Faces hitters Thursday
Rotowire
Waldron (lower body) threw "about 25 pitches" in a live batting-practice session Thursday, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
The session marked Waldron's first time throwing to live hitters since he underwent hemorrhoid surgery in late February. The knuckleballer said Thursday that he expects to throw a bullpen and then get into a Cactus League game in the next 5-to-6 days, but he also stated that he isn't going to be ready for Opening Day. That means Waldron will likely begin the campaign on the IL, though he could be ready to be activated around mid-April.
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Padres' Matt Waldron: Throwing off mound this week
Rotowire
Waldron (lower body) is slated to throw off the mound this week, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Waldron underwent hemorrhoid surgery last week and is expected to begin the season on the injured list. The knuckleballer hopes to make at least one Cactus League appearance before camp breaks. Waldron is out of minor-league options, so once he's healthy he'll need to either go on the active roster or be exposed to waivers.
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Padres' Matt Waldron: Week-to-week after procedure
Rotowire
Padres manager Craig Stammen said Tuesday that Waldron is "week-to-week" after undergoing hemorrhoid surgery, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Waldron is in competition for a spot in the Padres' rotation and threw two scoreless innings in his first Cactus League appearance. However, it's going to be difficult for the knuckleballer to earn one of those spots now. Waldron is coming off a rough 2025 season, as he was knocked around in his lone start for the Padres and posted a 6.67 ERA in 18 starts with Triple-A El Paso.
The Padres optioned Waldron to Triple-A El Paso on Wednesday.
Waldron will head back to the minors after he permitted four runs over 4.2 innings Monday while taking a loss in a spot start versus the Phillies. San Diego called up right-hander Eduarniel Nunez to replace Waldron on the 26-man active roster.
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Padres' Matt Waldron: Can't find zone in loss
Rotowire
Waldron (0-1) suffered the loss in Monday's contest at Philadelphia, conceding four runs on six hits and six walks over 4.2 innings with three strikeouts.
Waldron's season debut was absolutely disastrous, as the knuckleballer issued a career-worst six free passes (his previous worst was four). Despite the avalanche of walks, the San Diego right-hander managed to limit the Phillies lineup to just one extra-base hit -- a Nick Castellanos solo homer in the fifth -- across his 104 pitches. Waldron hadn't been particularly sharp before his callup, pitching to a 5.04 ERA across 30.1 frames in two minor-league stops, but he could stay with the big-league team, as San Diego starting pitchers Ryan Bergert (forearm), Yu Darvish (elbow), Michael King (shoulder), and Joe Musgrove (elbow) are all on the injured list. If Waldron continues to stick in the rotation, his next turn is scheduled to come against the Rangers at home this weekend.
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Padres' Matt Waldron: Headed to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Padres are expected to option Waldron to Triple-A El Paso on Wednesday, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Waldron will be the roster casualty necessary to make room for Eduarniel Nunez, who is set to be selected from El Paso on Wednesday. Waldron struggled mightily during his season debut Monday, during which he gave up four runs in 4.2 innings, and he's put up a 5.24 ERA and 1.54 WHIP through 22.1 frames in Triple-A.
Padres' Matt Waldron: Recalled to start Monday's game
Rotowire
The Padres recalled Waldron from Triple-A El Paso on Monday.
Waldron will start Monday's game in Philadelphia and could be needed for multiple turns in the rotation as the Padres navigate through injuries to their other starting pitchers. The knuckleballer has missed time himself in 2025 with an oblique strain, and in five starts with El Paso, he turned in a 5.24 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 22:7 K:BB in 22.1 innings.
The Padres will call up Waldron from Triple-A El Paso to start Monday's game in Philadelphia, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
After making 26 starts for the Padres in 2024, Waldron will be joining the Padres for the first time this season. He spent the early part of the season on the injured list while recovering from an oblique strain, but he's been making regular turns out of the Triple-A rotation since late May and owns a 5.24 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 22:7 K:BB in 22.1 innings with El Paso. While those numbers don't necessarily make the knuckleballer deserving of a promotion, the Padres were short on alternatives to fill the fifth spot in the rotation due to Ryan Bergert (forearm) recently joining Yu Darvish (elbow), Michael King (shoulder) and Joe Musgrove (elbow) on the injured list. Darvish is the closest of that quartet to returning from the IL, but since his timetable is still somewhat vague, Waldron could be needed to make multiple turns through the rotation before the All-Star break.
