Padres pitcher has golden chance to cement future in starting rotation

The Padres’ rotation is in a precarious spot, and Randy Vásquez could be the wild card that changes how the team views its future plans. With Michael King on the shelf, Vásquez has been thrust back into the starting rotation, and while the assumption is that he’ll head back down when King returns, this stretch against division rivals is no small audition. If he wants to be a key contributor in the rotation for the 2026 season, this is the moment to prove he belongs.

The numbers paint the picture of a pitcher who’s been more solid than spectacular. In 23 appearances (22 starts), Vásquez has posted a 3–6 record with a 3.96 ERA across 111.1 innings. He’s struck out 59 batters while walking enough to push his WHIP to 1.38. Not exactly ace material, but not someone you toss aside either. Dig a little deeper and you’ll find a 2.0 WAR; a signal that he’s quietly provided real value to a club fighting for every inch in the NL West.

Vásquez facing critical audition with Michael King sidelined

Still, there’s a glaring issue: longevity. Vásquez has struggled to work deep into games, often forcing Mike Shildt and the bullpen to cover more innings than they’d like. His latest outing against the Dodgers was a perfect example of his track record. Used as a bridge following an opener, he tossed 58 pitches over 3 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs. Shildt’s creative deployment was effective enough against one of baseball’s most dangerous lineups, but it also highlighted the question mark that’s followed Vásquez all season: can he consistently get through the order more than twice?

That’s the leap he has to make if he wants to be viewed as more than a depth option. Right now, he’s a fringe starter — good enough to fill in, but not yet good enough to be penciled into the rotation without hesitation. And for a Padres team with October ambitions, that gap matters.

Vásquez doesn’t need to morph into an ace overnight. What he needs to do is build trust. String together quality starts. Prove he can eat innings against teams like the Dodgers, Giants, and Diamondbacks. Show he’s more than just a temporary plug in the dam while King heals.

The Padres have built a rotation with big names and big expectations, but the path to long-term success often runs through pitchers like Vásquez; the ones who step up when opportunity knocks. If he can seize this moment, San Diego may not just be thinking about him as a stopgap, but as a key piece of their 2026 plans.

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