Padres pregame: Freddy Fermin’s workload, Sean Reynolds optioned to El paso

DENVER — Freddy Fermin arrived at the trade deadline as a career backup, but that job carries an entirely different kind of workload when you’re the No. 2 catcher behind the 35-year-old Salvador Pérez.

“There was one time that Salvy told me, ‘Hey, I need you,” Fermin said through interpreter Jorge Merlos. “ ‘All right, I’m going to prepare myself.”

Indeed, Fermin caught as many as 14 days in a row last year. That stretch included 10 starts and both ends of a doubleheader. He also had stretches of playing 11 straight (nine starts), 10 straight (nine starts) and two stretches of nine straight appearances in which he started seven and eight games, respectively.

So the four out of five routine he’s got going with his new home with the Padres isn’t at all a shock to the system.

That said, three days off before returning to Saturday’s lineup, was a welcome respite.

“Maybe just a little worn out, just mentally and physically,” Fermin said. “But like I’ve said, you got to prepare yourself every single day to be right there, mentally and physically. You have to be ready when your name is called.”

Acquired at the deadline from the Royals for right-handers Stephen Kolek and Ryan Bergert, Fermin began this new stint as the Padres’ No. 1 catcher by hitting .350/.381/.450 over his first 12 games.

That gave way to an .094/.147/.156 slump over 11 games before Fermin doubled twice and threw out a runner on the bases Tuesday. He gave way to Elias Díaz for the day-after-night start (on Wednesday Díaz’s first non-Nick Pivetta pairing since Yu Darvish on Aug. 5), the team was off on Thursday and Díaz caught Pivetta on Friday.

But the expectation is that more often than not, four out of five will be the norm for Fermin.

“We traded two really good pitchers to get Freddy to play,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said. … “I think we’ll look and figure out how he does feel. Díaz is swinging the bat better more consistently. He’s going to get Pivetta and then we’ll base it on the schedule. We’ve got 10 in a row. So it wouldn’t surprise me if Díaz picked up another game here and there, especially in the turnaround games.”

For his part, Fermin is ready for whatever comes his way.

That was job in Kansas City behind Pérez anyway.

“Whenever he needed the day off, I was ready,” Fermin said. “But regardless if he was starting or not, I was always prepared to go out there, so I prepare myself every single time that there’s a game the same way as if I’m starting or if I’m not starting. Just like last night when Elias was in there, I was ready to go whenever the manager needed me.”

Saturday in the Mile High City. pic.twitter.com/oSWRcY0W6v

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 6, 2025

Fermin will bat eighth on Saturday (5:10 p.m. on Padres.TV) as Mason McCoy will start at shortstop and bat ninth. Luis Arraez is back in the lineup and at first base, pushing Ryan O’Hearn to DH and Gavin Sheets to the bench.

The Padres are looking to end a five-game skid.

Here is how the Rockies will line up for Game 2:

Saturday ayee pic.twitter.com/vpuB8FGR5U

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) September 6, 2025

One arm for another

To make room to officially call-up right-hander Randy Vásquez for Saturday’s start, the Padres optioned right-hander Sean Reynolds to Triple-A El Paso.

The 27-year-old Reynolds has a 5.33 ERA in 27 innings this year in the majors, although he allowed five runs in 1⅔ innings in a previous stint to push his ERA over 5.00. Reynolds appeared in just one game with the Padres in this stint, allowed a run on one hit and four walks in 2⅔ innings on Wednesday against the Orioles.

Reynolds has a 25-to-17 strikeout-to-walk ratio in the majors.

The Padres still have a 10-man bullpen and will likely continue to carry that many relievers until Michael King (knee) returns from the injured list, perhaps as soon as next week.

King, who did not travel with the team to Coors Field, is expected to throw a bullpen on Sunday.

Saturday’s pitching matchup

Padres RHP Randy Vásquez (3-6, 3.96 ERA).

He has allowed five runs across his two starts (8 IP) with Triple-A El Paso. Vásquez last pitched on Aug. 23 as he was on the paternity list. Vásquez last pitched in the majors as a bulk reliever at Dodger Stadium on Aug. 15 (3⅔ IP, 2 ER). He has allowed six runs in 8⅔ innings in two starts at Coors Field.

Here is how Vásquez has fared against current Rockies:

Rockies RHP McCade Brown (0-2, 8.22)

The 25-year-old is making the third start of his career. So far, he has allowed seven runs on 10 hits and six walks. He has five strikeouts in 7⅔ innings. Brown is not ranked among the Rockies’ top-30 prospects. He had a 2.47 ERA in 76⅔ innings as he rose from high Single-A to Double-A this year. Brown was a third-round pick in 2021.