Padres pregame: Kyle Hart returns for bulk innings behind opener David Morgan

The Padres optioned out right-hander Alek Jacob for left-hander Kyle Hart to set up a bullpen game for Sunday’s 10:05 a.m. series finale in Minnesota (Roku).

They won’t have to send an arm out to reset the bullpen on Monday as rosters expand to 28 when they return to Petco Park.

Right-hander David Morgan (1-2, 2.95 ERA) will serve as an opener on Sunday. It is his second assignment this season as an opener as he recorded four outs before giving way to Hart in a win a on July 6 against the Rangers.

Morgan struck out a batter, walked one and allowed a run on four hits before Hart (3-2, 5.29 ERA) followed with 43 pitches over 3⅔ perfect innings in the win.

Given his workload of late, it would be hard to expect much more from Hart.

He hasn’t pitched more than two innings in a game for Triple-A El Paso since Aug. 3, has averaged 25 pitches over his last seven appearances (1.93 ERA) and hasn’t been used as a true starting pitcher since June 28 (6 IP, 2 ER).

Each of Hart’s last three appearances in the majors have been in relief (6 ⅔ IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 Ks, HBP).

Jacob (1-0, 5.40 ERA) covered 3⅓ innings over the first two games in Minnesota to help keep the bullpen fresh for Sunday.

With Jackson Merrill now not expected back with the team now until rosters expand in September on Monday, the Padres have just a small tweak to the lineup they’ve been using since Xander Bogaerts (foot) hit the injured list on Friday.

Good morning, Faithful pic.twitter.com/O8lnFgHzBQ

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) August 31, 2025

Second baseman Jake Cronenworth is moving from eighth to seventh in the lineup behind left fielder Gavin Sheets as shortstop Jose Iglesias and catcher Freddy Fermin.

Saturday’s win moved the Padres (76-60) a game behind the Dodgers in the NL West and three games ahead of the Mets, the NL’s current No. 3 wild-card team.

The Padres remain two games behind the Cubs in the race for the NL’s top wild-card team.

Here is how the Twins will line up for series finale:

Wrapping the series this afternoon pic.twitter.com/ixw7NpAjrz

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) August 31, 2025

The Twins will start right-hander Joe Ryan (12-7, 3.22 ERA).

The first-time All-Star would have career bests in ERA, WHIP (0.97) and ERA+ (131) if the season ended today. His 148 innings are closing in on a career high (161 ⅔) and his next win will tie a career high. Ryan, however, has allowed 11 runs over nine innings over his last two starts. His only meeting with the Padres was in 2022, when he allowed 10 runs in 4⅔ innings in a loss.

Here is how Ryan has fared against current Padres: