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
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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
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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.
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Padres' Matt Waldron: Recalled to start Monday's game
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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.
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Padres' Matt Waldron: Entering rotation Monday
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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.
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Padres' Matt Waldron: Activated, optioned to Triple-A
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The Padres activated Waldron (oblique) from the 60-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A El Paso on Sunday, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Waldron had been on the shelf throughout the 2025 campaign while recovering from a left oblique strain, but after completing a rehab assignment, he'll make regular turns out of the El Paso rotation. In his most recent outing for the Triple-A club Friday, Waldron struck out six over four innings but allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits and three walks. The knuckleballer spent most of 2024 in the San Diego rotation, turning in a 4.91 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 133:40 K:BB in 146.2 innings. He could be an option to return to the big-league rotation later on in 2025 if he can find some success with El Paso.
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Padres' Matt Waldron: Builds up to 61 pitches in rehab
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Waldron (oblique) allowed two earned runs on five hits and one walk while striking out four batters across 4.1 innings in his rehab start Sunday with Double-A San Antonio.
Waldron has been on the shelf all season after straining his left oblique while warming up in the bullpen during a Cactus League game in mid-March. He's been steadily building up since beginning his rehab assignment in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on May 15, as he's made his subsequent two starts at San Antonio while tossing two and 4.1 innings. During Sunday's outing, Waldron tossed 61 pitches (37 strikes), but the Padres will likely want to see him move his pitch count up to around 75 during his rehab assignment before bringing him back from the injured list. San Diego could have an opening in the rotation for Waldron once he's activated, as he appears on pace to beat Yu Darvish (elbow) and Michael King (shoulder) back from the IL.
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Padres' Matt Waldron: Begins rehab assignment
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Waldron (oblique) began a rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League on Thursday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Waldron suffered an oblique strain in mid-March but returned to the mound Thursday. He allowed one earned run on two hits and a walk while striking out three across 1.2 frames. Waldron threw a total of 38 pitches, so he'll likely need a few more appearances before being activated.
The Padres transferred Waldron (oblique) to the 60-day injured list Friday.
Waldron has been on the injured list all season due to a strained left oblique, and his move to the 60-day IL will ensure he remains out until at least late May. His roster spot will be filled by Tyler Wade, who was selected from Triple-A to replace the injured Jake Cronenworth (rib).
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Padres' Matt Waldron: Lands on IL
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The Padres placed Waldron (oblique) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.
Waldron has yet to resume a throwing program since suffering a left oblique strain while warming up in the bullpen March 14. He'll require more than the minimum 15 days to heal from the injury, and with Yu Darvish (elbow) joining him on the shelf to begin the season, the Padres will have room in the rotation for both Kyle Hart and Randy Vasquez, who had been competing with Waldron for the No. 5 starter role.
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Padres' Matt Waldron: Not yet throwing
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Waldron (oblique) has yet to resume throwing, per MLB.com.
Waldron is dealing with a mild left oblique strain and is expected to begin the campaign on the injured list. He had been competing for the Padres' fifth-starter role this spring, though he struggled with an 8.68 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 7:7 K:BB over 9.1 Cactus League innings before getting hurt. With both Waldron and Yu Darvish (elbow) likely unavailable at the start of the season, Randy Vasquez, Stephen Kolek and Kyle Hart are battling to fill San Diego's two available rotation slots.
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Padres' Matt Waldron: Diagnosed with oblique strain
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Waldron suffered a mild left oblique strain while warming up in the bullpen Friday, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Waldron's injury prevented him from pitching as scheduled against the Rangers. He'll be re-evaluated Saturday, at which point a return timeline may be established, but he's likely to be unavailable for Opening Day given the timing of the injury. The 28-year-old right-hander has had a tough time getting going this spring, surrendering 11 runs (nine earned) on nine hits and seven walks while striking out seven batters in 9.1 innings.
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Padres' Matt Waldron: Possibly injured in bullpen
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Waldron didn't pitch as scheduled Friday due to a potential injury he suffered while warming up in the bullpen, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
After Waldron threw a few pitches in the bullpen preparing for what was supposed to be his fifth appearance of the spring, a trainer intervened to check on him. The 28-year-old righty then retreated into the Padres' clubhouse. It's unclear at the moment what he might be dealing with, though more information is likely to be revealed following the game.
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Padres' Matt Waldron: Strengthens bid for rotation spot
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Waldron pitched three scoreless innings in a Cactus League contest against the Athletics on Thursday, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out two batters.
Waldron's second spring start went very smoothly, as he allowed only three baserunners (one on an error), and two of those were wiped out on double plays. The knuckleballer has yielded just one run through five innings over two starts this spring as he makes his case for the fifth spot in San Diego's Opening Day rotation. Waldron's competition for that role includes Kyle Hart, Stephen Kolek, Randy Vasquez and Jhony Brito.
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Padres' Matt Waldron: Allows one run in spring debut
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Waldron surrendered one run on two hits and no walks while striking out two batters over two innings in a Cactus League contest against Oakland on Saturday.
Waldron is one of several pitchers competing for the final spot in San Diego's rotation, and he began his exhibition slate with a decent outing. After allowing a pair of hits and a run through three batters, the knuckleballer settled down to retire the final five batters he faced. Even if Waldron does land San Diego's fifth-starter role, he isn't a particularly intriguing fantasy option given his modest strikeout rate and 4.91 ERA over 146.2 frames last year.
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Padres' Matt Waldron: Intends to lean more on knuckleball
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Waldron said Wednesday that he is planning to throw his knuckleball more frequently during the upcoming season, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
The knuckler was Waldron's most-used pitch last year, as he threw it 38.2 percent of the time, per Statcast. The right-hander registered a 27.5 percent whiff rate on the offering, and opponents had a .227 xBA against it, rendering it a relatively effective pitch, especially in comparison to his four-seamer (19.1 percent usage rate, 22.4 percent whiff rate, .247 xBA) and his sinker (14.3 percent usage rate, 6.7 percent whiff rate, .316 xBA). Waldron is battling for a spot at the back of San Diego's rotation, and how he -- and his knuckleball -- perform during Cactus League play could go a long way toward determining what his role will be at the start of the season.
Waldron was recalled from Triple-A El Paso on Sunday.
Waldron will serve as fresh arm capable of logging multiple innings of relief Sunday following starter Martin Perez. Waldron, who is known best for his knuckleball, logged a 4.79 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 130 strikeouts in 142.2 innings through 26 MLB starts this year.
