The San Diego Padres just got obliterated by the Chicago Cubs. The final score was 23-3. That is not a typo. It was the worst loss in franchise history. And now they have to turn around and face the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers at Chavez Ravine.
So the front office made a quick move. They activated right-handed pitcher German Marquez from the 15-day injured list. To make room, they placed reliever Jason Adam on the IL with a right shoulder strain. The move is retroactive to June 30.
Marquez isn’t walking into a great situation. The guy has a 3-2 record this season but his numbers aren’t pretty. He has given up 31 hits, 19 runs and eight home runs over limited innings. He has struck out 19 batters. The Padres need arms more than they need a savior. But at this point, they will take anyone who can throw strikes.
That Cubs game was a disaster on every level
Wednesday night’s loss was so bad it sparked rumors about the Padres becoming sellers before the trade deadline. That is a wild thing to say about a team that started the year with playoff expectations. But teams get spooked by losses that look like football scores.
Even Walker Buehler set a career low in that game, which is saying something. The Padres surrendered 23 runs and their pitching staff looked completely lost. Marquez coming back gives them some depth but it does not fix the larger issue. The rotation is thin. It has been thin all year. One guy coming off the IL is not going to solve that.
San Diego’s front office will probably look at adding another pitcher or two before the deadline. That is the logical next step. But Wednesday’s debacle might have accelerated their timeline. Teams that take 23-run losses do not get to pretend everything is fine.
Marquez has been here before
The 31-year-old spent most of his career with the Colorado Rockies before joining the Padres. He made an All-Star team in 2021. He knows how to pitch in tough environments. Coors Field is a nightmare for pitchers. Dodger Stadium is not much easier, especially with this lineup.
Fans online noted that bringing Marquez back right before a series against the Dodgers feels intentional. Padres management did not say that but it is not hard to connect the dots. You do not activate a pitcher the day after your bullpen gets blasted for 23 runs and pretend it is coincidence.
Marquez will not fix everything. But the Padres need a pulse. He gives them one. Whether that matters against a Dodgers team that just watched their rivals collapse is a different question entirely.
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