Padres pregame: Ramon Laureano the only newcomer starting in first post-deadline lineup

A day after a frenzied trade deadline, Jose Iglesias walked into a re-stocked clubhouse on Friday at Petco Park and found his name in the lineup, just as it had been the last time the Padres faced a left-hander.

Only this time, it’s not just Gavin Sheets ready to be a bullet fired off the bench.

It’s All-Star Ryan O’Hearn.

In fact, of the three bats that the Padres acquired, only left fielder Ramon Laureano is in the lineup for Friday’s 6:40 p.m. start against Cardinals left-hander Matthew Liberatore.

“Championship teams have depth for sure,” Iglesias said. “Teams I’ve been through, we’re going to need everybody at some point. Up and down. Even someone in El Paso right now we’re going to need them at some point. It’s good to have. I’m pretty sure Mike (Shildt) is pretty happy about it, to look over his shoulder and have options to put the team in a really good position to succeed.”

Iglesias will serve as the DH, hitting eighth between second baseman Jake Cronenworth and catcher Elias Díaz.

Laureano will hit sixth, as the Padres go with the same top-five the last time the played a lefty: Fernando Tatis Jr., Luis Arraez, Manny Machado, Jackson Merrill and Xander Bogaerts.

Noche de la Herencia Mexicana pic.twitter.com/j2glsE7rpK

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) August 1, 2025

All of the new big-league Padres, minus the rehabbing Nestor Cortes, were in the clubhouse prior to the start of a three-game series against the Cardinals.

To make room for the newcomers, infielder Tyler Wade was designated for assignment and right-hander Ron Marinaccio was optioned to Triple-A El Paso.

A day earlier, infielder Trenton Brooks and catcher Martín Maldonado were designated for assignment and new infielder Will Wagner was optioned to Triple-A El Paso.

Wade was hitting .206/.309/.252 in this second year with the Padres. This stint began with the Padres designating him for assignment before opening day, passing him through waivers, keeping him at Triple-A El Paso and calling on him when injuries struck the team in April.

Marinaccio struck out four over 2⅔ scoreless innings during this first stint with the Padres.

Here is how the Cardinals, who activated Nolan Gorman but sent Nolan Arenado (shoulder) to injured list, will lineup up for Game 1:

Nolan Gorman's back! pic.twitter.com/dkykuGMuf5

— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) August 1, 2025

Friday’s pitching matchup

Cardinals LHP Matthew Liberatore (6-8, 4.04 ERA)

He allowed two runs — one earned — on six hits and two walks in 4⅓ innings in a loss to the Padres last weekend in St. Louis. Liberatore has not pitched into the sixth inning in any of his starts yet this month (6.57 ERA).

Here is how Liberatore has fared against current Padres:

Padres RHP Nick Pivetta (10-3, 2.81 ERA)

He lost his start in St. Louis last week, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks in 6⅓ innings. Pivetta still has an 0.96 ERA over his last six starts. He is 6-0 with a 2.07 ERA in 11 starts at home, striking out 75 against 13 walks over 65⅓ innings.

Here is how Pivetta has fared against current Cardinals: