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The difference in regular-season rosters and postseason rosters is as different as the games themselves. Some players who make the 26-man roster in the MLB postseason can sometimes have you thinking “Why?” only to find out their role once the games unfold.
With that in mind, and with the San Diego Padres having home-field advantage in their NL Wild Card Series against the Chicago Cubs beginning Tuesday at Petco Park, it is time to take a closer look at who could play a role for the Friars in the playoffs in 2026. Manager Craig Stammen and president of baseball operations A.J. Preller will have some choices to make to construct the best roster for the three-game Wild Card Series.
As for the basics, rosters are back down to 26 players from the 28-man group in September, and you still can’t have more than half of those be pitchers. But you can have more be hitters, which is usually the way teams go for at least the Wild Card Series due to that only going a maximum of three games. Rosters can only be modified during a series because of injury and can be altered between series however teams want.
The official roster will be announced some time on Tuesday morning.
Starting Pitchers (3)
RH Michael King
RH Nick Pivetta
LH Robbie Ray
Analysis: Let’s talk about the picks here before we talk about who isn’t included in this rotation. King has earned the right to be a Game 1 starter in the postseason—and it isn’t close. He had eight consecutive quality starts and 18 for the season before turning in a clunker in his last outing (which might be a good motivational factor). From a pitching perspective, the Padres will need an ace performance from King in a short series and whenever he pitches.
The order of Pivetta and Ray could depend on the opponent. The Cubs hit left-handed starters and left-handers in general better than they do right-handers, which could put Ray in a more limited role, probably better-suited for Game 3 (or maybe even a bullpen role). Pivetta has come back from an early-season right elbow injury and has put together four solid starts. His third one—as well as the work he did in the other three—have shown enough to trust him to start a postseason game, but with a watchful eye. Pivetta started Game 1 of last year’s NL Wild Card Series vs. the Cubs and allowed two fifth-inning runs while striking out nine in a 3-1 loss.
Ray, meanwhile, is pretty unflappable, which could make him a better choice for Game 3, knowing that the bullpen will be ready to be deployed at any moment. Walks are a killer at any time, which makes him a risky proposition during the postseason due to his propensity to issue free passes. Ray also has a shaky playoff history. He has made six postseason appearances, only two as a starter, with a 4.58 FIP (7.43 ERA) over just 13⅓ innings. He hasn’t pitched in a postseason since 2022.
As for who isn’t in the Wild Card Series rotation: Right-hander Walker Buehler could also be an option to start Game 3, otherwise he will be in the bullpen.
Relief Pitchers (9)
RH Mason Miller
RH Jason Adam
LH Yuki Matsui
RH Walker Buehler
Analysis: There are no surprises here as I go with a nine-man bullpen and 12 on the staff for the Wild Card Series with an extra position player. As mentioned above, Buehler isn’t starting, but has the postseason pedigree for any situation. Buehler has made 10 relief appearances in his nine seasons, but eight of those came as a rookie in 2017 and another in 2018. The other came last year when he was with the Philadelphia Phillies.
He and Vasquez can give you multiple innings, with the latter serving as a higher-upside weapon. Left-hander Kyle Hart would have been another good weapon, but he was optioned to the minors Saturday and, barring an injury, won’t be available for the first two postseason series. Matsui has worked his way into the circle of trust and could be an early option against probable NL MVP Pete Crow-Armstrong. He is best as an early- to middle-innings fireman, not for the late innings (unless it is extras).
Adam’s return in the final week gives the Padres four end-of-game options to deploy based on matchups, allowing more flexibility with Rodriguez’s use. Miller and Morejon are the best right-left relief combo in the game and Rodriguez is quickly making that a three-headed monster. Miller going more than one inning could become the norm in the postseason.
Catchers (3)
LH Ethan Salas
Analysis: It is pretty clear from over the last week that Salas could catch a majority of the Padres’ postseason games. Campusano has been King’s personal catcher in the second half, so he is likely to start Game 1, with Salas a possibility as the designated hitter.
Fermin is the defensive replacement for both. Salas, 20 years and 95 days old on Tuesday, will be the youngest player to play in a postseason game in MLB history when he does appear. He has shown the skill and mettle to be up to the challenge.
Infielders (6)
RH Ty France
LH Gavin Sheets
Analysis: Sheets’ return from plantar fasciitis for the final regular-season series was encouraging and gives the Padres a left-handed bench bat when Salas isn’t in the lineup or as the DH. Song is here as a security blanket in case there is an in-game injury, with the ability to serve as a pinch-runner or late-game defensive replacement.
Outfielders (5)
RH Samad Taylor
RH Jase Bowen
Analysis: Miguel Andujar, out since July 20 with a fractured right wrist, not being activated in the final week was surprising. Does he return for the Wild Card Series? He has been getting at-bats in the last week in Arizona, but if he was ready, he would have been activated by now after two weeks at Triple-A El Paso. Austin Hays could make the roster at the expense of Taylor, more likely, or Song. Bowen might make the roster as a specialty player, thanks to his ability to serve as a pinch-runner and defender. Taylor's hot bad should earn him a few trips to the plate at least in the Wild Card Round.
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