Padres’ David Morgan is giving Craig Stammen one more arm for October’s biggest outs

The Padres asked Mason Miller for five outs on September 19 and still needed three more after Miami tied the game in the ninth. Fortunately, David Morgan was available and supplied them. With the automatic runner at second in the 10th, he kept the Marlins off the board and gave Ethan Salas the chance to win the game. Craig Stammen may need to find that kind of answer again in the postseason, when a close game calls for an audible in their bullpen plan.

Morgan struck out Deyvison De Los Santos and Esteury Ruiz, then got Heriberto Hernández to line out after an intentional walk to Otto Lopez. He gave the Friars a scoreless inning and two strikeouts in the 7-6 win. He held the tie long enough for Salas’ walk-off single.

David Morgan is earning a real high-leverage postseason role

It has taken Morgan most of the season to make his case and earn this opportunity. He posted a 2.66 ERA as a rookie in 2025, then spent this year bouncing between the major league roster and Triple-A. The Padres optioned him in April and again in August, with a stint on the IL for left knee inflammation in between. Through Saturday, his 2026 ERA stood at 4.11 and his WHIP at 1.79. Those numbers explain why Stammen still has something to evaluate.

Morgan has offered a pretty candid explanation for part of the struggle. He told Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune that he put pressure on himself to improve on his rookie season and wound up trying too hard. He has worked on a more fluid delivery, and the fastball is giving him reason to trust it. Morgan’s fastball reached 100 mph in Colorado and averaged 98.4 mph Saturday.

Over his last seven appearances through September 19, Morgan allowed one earned run in seven innings and struck out eight. He also gave up three hits and a run against Miami the night before his scoreless 10th. We should look at both outings when thinking about Morgan in high leverage. His 19 walks in 30 2/3 innings this season remain a concern when one free baserunner can decide a postseason game. Saturday’s walk was intentional; the larger command question comes from the view of his season in totality.

Stammen told Acee that Morgan has lately established himself against pockets of right-handed hitters. That gives the Padres a specific role to deploy him in. A starter might exit early in the game, Miller might be needed before the ninth, as he was Saturday. Stammen could then turn to Morgan for two dangerous right-handed bats with the score still tight.

Morgan has some postseason experience. He threw a scoreless inning and struck out two hitters in Game 3 of last year’s Wild Card series at Wrigley Field. His late push is about earning a bigger assignment this time. Give him another tight game before the regular season ends and see if the command holds. If they do, Stammen should be willing to hand him the ball while a playoff game is still there to win.

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