The San Diego Padres suffered a tough loss on Thursday, dropping the rubber match to the Milwaukee Brewers and suffering their first road series defeat of the season. It was a day to forget from the very first pitch.
Newcomer Griffin Canning took the mound for the Friars, and after two promising starts to open the year, this one went sideways in a hurry. Canning lasted just 1 2/3 innings, walking four batters and surrendering six runs to a Brewers lineup that didn't need much help. By the end of the first inning, the Padres actually had more hits (2) than Milwaukee (1), yet they found themselves trailing 3-0. That deficit only grew, and San Diego's offense remained silent until a ninth-inning RBI forceout provided the lone bright spot on the scoreboard.
Now the Padres head to Seattle for a weekend series against the Mariners, and the urgency is real. With a pivotal matchup against division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers looming on Monday, San Diego needs to find its offensive rhythm fast. If the bats stay cold, it could be a long week for Friar Faithful.
Standing in their way is Emerson Hancock, who has been nothing short of brilliant for Seattle this season. Anchoring a rotation full of elite arms, the breakout right-hander has posted a stellar 3.21 ERA and 1.01 WHIP over 47 2/3 innings. The Padres faced Hancock in their last series against the Mariners, and he held them to just two runs over six frames. San Diego managed to steal that game with a five-run ninth-inning rally, but Hancock wasn't the one who cracked. This time, the offense needs to show up early if they hope to scratch across runs against him.
On the flip side, the Padres will counter with Randy Vásquez, who has been a revelation in their own rotation. The righty carries a 3.05 ERA across 44 1/3 innings, though his 1.17 WHIP suggests he's been living a bit dangerously. Vásquez also faced Seattle in that last series, and it was arguably his worst start of 2026, allowing four runs in as many innings. The Padres still pulled out a win, but they'll need a sharper performance from Vásquez this time to give their overworked bullpen a much-needed breather.
Manager Craig Stammen has been loading up the lineup with offense-first options, even shifting Fernando Tatis Jr. to second base to maximize firepower. But no amount of lineup tinkering matters if the bats don't wake up. The road ahead is tough, and the Friars need to find their swing before it's too late.