Padres pregame: Jackson Merrill (ankle) moved to IL, corresponding move TBD

Jackson Merrill was placed on the 10-day injured list roughly 40 minutes before Saturday’s first pitch, with the Padres announcing that a corresponding roster move would wait until Sunday.

The move is retroactive to Wednesday, meaning he’s eligible to return Aug. 30 in Minnesota.

Merrill has not played since he exited Sunday after two strikeouts at Dodger Stadium. He rolled his ankle on Aug. 15 and played the next day but had not even progressed to baseball activity when Padres manager Mike Shildt addressed the media Saturday afternoon.

“Nothing new really,” Shildt said before Saturday’s 5:40 p.m. first pitch on Padres.TV and FS1. “Came in. … His gait and his walk is better, but as far as the mobility and explosiveness, we’re still exploring it …  but nothing dramatically has changed.

“But he is feeling a little better.”

But not good enough to avoid an IL stint. They can only be backdated three days, so he’ll be out through the start of next week’s series in Minnesota after deciding on the transaction before Saturday’s first pitch.

The corresponding move will be announced Sunday as the Padres will play a man down on Saturday, as they have all week while waiting for improvement in their 22-year-old center fielder.

Of the minor leaguers on the 40-man roster, the left-handed-hitting Tirso Ornelas has center field experience but is far better suited for the corners. Tyler Wade has the most functionality — can run, play three outfield spots and three infield spots — but he is no longer on the 40-man roster, so a spot would have to be opened up.

One possibility would be to DFA Mason McCoy, a 30-year-old infielder who has collected 62 plate appearances in the majors (.476 OPS) since joining the Padres last year.

McCoy appeared in four games with the Padres in April.

Wade has been DFA’d twice this year, opting both times to remain in the organization in the minors. Wade was hitting .206/.309/.252 when the deadline trades forced him from the Padres’ active and 40-man roster.

The Padres, however, had not been in hurry to replace Merrill on the active roster as they appear to be covered with Gavin Sheets starting in left field a fourth straight game on Saturday and switch-hitter Bryce Johnson more than capable of covering all three spots off the bench in a pinch.

Sheets (.759 OPS), whose career-high 17 homers is tied for third most on the team with Fernando Tatis Jr. (.806 OPS), will bat seventh, between shortstop Xander Bogaerts (.721 OPS) and center fielder Ramon Laureano (.903 OPS).

O’Hearn (.846 OPS) remains the leadoff hitter and will man first base as Luis Arraez (.721 OPS) gets a DH day.

Before the game, the Dodgers activated right-hander Kirby Yates (back) from the injured list and transferred Friday’s starter, left-hander Blake Snell, to the paternity list.

Here is how the Dodgers, tied with the Padres atop the NL West, line up for Game 2:

Tonight’s #Dodgers lineup at Padres: pic.twitter.com/UP1nvVisCb

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 23, 2025

Saturday’s pitching matchup

Dodgers RHP Tyler Glasnow (1-1, 3.12 ERA)

He hasn’t earned a win personally since March 31, but Glasnow has a 2.50 ERA in seven starts since returning from the injured list just head of the All-Star break. That includes allowed two runs in five innings while striking out eight in a no-decision on Sunday against the Padres.

Here is how Glasnow has fared against current Padres:

Padres LHP Nestor Cortes (1-2, 5.87 ERA)

He’s allowed four home runs in three starts (4.20 ERA, 15 IP) since joining the Padres’ rotation following the trade deadline. Cortes allowed three home runs in the first inning on Monday against the Giants but still pitched into the sixth inning. Cortes faced the Dodgers in last year’s World Series, blowing a save (⅓ IP, 2 ER) in the 10th inning in Game 1 and retiring all five hitters he faced in relief in Game 3. Cortes’ only start against the Dodgers was a loss last year in the regular season (5⅓ IP, 4 ER).

Here is how Cortes has fared in the regular season against current Dodgers: