Padres pregame: Locked into No. 5 seed, Saturday’s lineup geared toward postseason readiness

With the Cubs wrapping up the No. 4 seed early Saturday afternoon, the Padres are turning their attention to some of their most pressing needs.

Right-hander Michael King will make his fourth start since returning from knee inflammation in what will be a final postseason tune-up. Manny Machado is also getting a rest day in Saturday’s 5:40 p.m. start against the Diamondbacks, while Xander Bogaerts will bat third and start a fourth straight game since returning from the fracture in his left foot.

Fernando Tatis Jr. is also in the lineup a second straight day after returning from a bout with COVID on Friday.

Sábado de béisbol. pic.twitter.com/NysPTPjxIt

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 27, 2025

Tatis went 1-for-5 with a grand slam and two strikeouts after missing the first three games of the homestand.

Bogaerts went 2-for-5 on Friday and is 3-for-13 since returning from the injured list.

Saturday is Machado’s second day off of the week and third of the month after starting every game this season until Sept. 14.

The 33-year-old Machado saw his OPS drop from a season-high 1.004 in 25 games in July to .590 in 28 games in August. He is hitting .188/.233/.376 for a .610 OPS, although he does have five homers this month.

Jose Iglesias will start at third in Machado’s place, while Will Wagner, delayed by weather, arrived on Saturday and will replace Ramon Laureano (finger) on the active roster.

Here is how the Diamondbacks, eliminated from postseason contention via Friday’s loss, will line up for Game 2:

Saturday in San Diego.https://t.co/k9Xjx1ui6d pic.twitter.com/GyeoHa4Sy7

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) September 27, 2025

Saturday’s pitching matchup

D-backs LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (9-8, 4.91 ERA)

He threw six shutout innings in a win over the Phillies in his last start and has a 1.84 ERA over his last five starts, all wins for the Diamondbacks. Rodriguez has a 2.30 ERA in three career starts against the Padres, but he allowed four runs in four innings in a loss this year.

Here is how Rodriguez has fared against current Padres:

Padres RHP Michael King (5-3, 3.57 ERA)

He threw five shutout innings in his last start, his first win since April 30. But King tied a season high with four walks last week and has a 6.92 ERA in three starts since returning from knee inflammation. This is King’s final playoff tune-up and his first start this year against Arizona. King threw 11 shutout innings across two starts last year against Arizona.

Here is how King has fared in his career against current D-backs: