Padres pregame: David Morgan comes off IL, Fernando Tatis Jr. still out

Save for Fernando Tatis Jr., who remains away with the team while dealing with an illness, several regulars are back in the lineup alongside Xander Bogaerts after a day off following Monday’s clinching.

The Padres are also welcoming the return of an important bullpen arm as right-hander David Morgan was activated from the 15-day injured list before Wednesday’s 1:10 p.m. start against the Brewers.

Morgan said he was feeling a little “baggy” coming out of the team’s last trip to Coors Field. The converted infielder had thrown 59⅓ innings between the minors and majors this year when the team, eyeing an opportunity for a break before the postseason, put him on the injured list earlier this month with shoulder inflammation.

Wednesday was the first day that Morgan could come off the injured list.

Morgan has a 2.80 ERA, 47 strikeouts and a 1.18 WHIP in 45 innings in the majors.

To make room, right-hander Ron Marinaccio was optioned to the Arizona Complex League. Because Marinaccio will have to remain in the minors for 15 days, he will not be an option until the Game 4 of the NLDS unless he’s replacing an injured pitcher.

Mid-week matchup. pic.twitter.com/5ndDxHI1si

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 24, 2025

Without Tatis, Luis Arraez will remain the leadoff hitter while playing first base. Third baseman Manny Machado, center fielder Jackson Merrill and second baseman Jake Cronenworth are all back in the lineup, pushing Ryan O’Hearn to DH as Gavin Sheets starts again in left field and Ramón Laureano starts in right a second straight game.

Bogaerts, as planned, is starting the day-after-night after returning Tuesday from the fracture in his left foot. He went 0-for-4 with a strikeout while playing nine innings at shortstop on Tuesday.

The Padres (87-71) are 1½ games behind both the Dodgers in the NL West and the Cubs in the race for the NL’s top wild-card spot.

The Dodgers have the tiebreaker over the Padres, so the Padres will have to pass them completely to win the division.

The Padres have the tiebreaker over the Cubs, who have lost five in a row since clinching their playoff spot.

The Cubs host the Mets at 5:05 p.m. (ESPN) and the Dodgers play at the Diamondbacks at 6:40 p.m.

Here is how the Brewers (95-63), still in control of the majors’ best record and home-field advantage throughout the postseason, will line up for the series finale:

Last regular season road game

: @FanDuelSN_WI
: @620wtmj #ThisIsMyCrew x @NicoletLaw pic.twitter.com/7KVfhHc51a

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) September 24, 2025

Wednesday’s pitching matchup

Brewers RHP Chad Patrick (3-8, 3.66 ERA)

RHP Quinn Priester was scheduled to start but he’s been pushed back for an extra day of rest and to also keep the Padres from getting an extra look should the two teams meet in the NLDS. Patrick has struck out 119 against 37 walks in 115 ⅔ innings. He last pitched on Sept. 20 (4 ⅓ IP, 2 ER). Patrick allowed a run in six innings in a loss to the Padres in Milwaukee in June.

Here is how current Padres have fared against the rookie:

Padres RHP Dylan Cease (8-12, 4.64 ERA)

His 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings lead all MLB qualifiers despite Cease carrying his worst ERA since making 14 starts as a rookie in 2019 (5.79 ERA). He allowed four runs in six innings in a loss on Friday in Chicago but has a 3.43 ERA in four September starts. Cease has a 3.57 ERA in three career starts against the Brewers, which included two in 2024 with the Padres (10⅔ IP, 5 ER, 7 BBs, 17 Ks).

Here is how Cease has fared against current Brewers: