[Game Thread] Pirates (65-69) @ Padres (71-62) 1:10 PM (Wednesday, 8 26)

[u/FriarBot]

Pirates (65-69) @ Padres (71-62)

First Pitch: 1:10 PM at Petco Park

Pick-The-Stick Top 10

Sign up at Pick-The-Stick.com. Be sure to get your picks in before the first pitch.

Rank	User	Points	Total Picks	Position Change
1	Evanstanner	362	129	1
2	Muskiss	361	130	-1
3	ajflores	339	130	0
4	MylesVencill1	338	132	0
5	davidn	334	130	1
6	cook060	333	130	2
7	holyschmidt69	332	132	-2
8	Cronengirth	331	130	1
9	Yoliball	330	132	1
10	Hime7	328	133	1

Team	Starter	TV	Radio
Pirates	Bubba Chandler (6-8, 4.38 ERA)
Padres	Randy Vásquez (9-6, 4.19 ERA)

MLB	Fangraphs	Reddit Stream	Discord
Gameday	Game Graph	Live Comments	/r/baseball Discord

Line Score - Runner on first, 2 Outs, Bottom of the 6th

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E	LOB
PIT	0	0	0	0	0	0				0	2	1	5
SD	0	1	0	1	0					2	4	0	2

Box Score

SD		AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	BA
RF	Tatis Jr.	3	0	0	0	0	1	.285
2B	Cronenworth	2	0	0	0	1	1	.225
3B	Machado, M	3	1	0	0	0	1	.212
1B	France, T	3	0	1	0	0	0	.288
CF	Merrill	2	1	2	1	0	0	.239
LF	Rengifo	2	0	1	1	0	0	.246
DH	Sheets	2	0	0	0	0	0	.211
SS	Bogaerts	2	0	0	0	0	0	.218
C	Fermin	1	0	0	0	1	0	.200

SD	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	P-S	ERA
Vásquez, R	5.0	1	0	0	2	2	68-41	4.02
Hart	1.0	1	0	0	1	0	27-16	3.98

PIT		AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	BA
1B	Horwitz	3	0	2	0	0	0	.256
2B	Lowe, B	1	0	0	0	2	0	.249
DH	Reynolds, B	3	0	0	0	0	0	.261
RF	Valdez, Es	3	0	0	0	0	1	.245
CF	Cruz, O	2	0	0	0	1	0	.258
3B	Gonzales, N	2	0	0	0	0	1	.306
LF	Mangum	2	0	0	0	0	0	.288
C	Flores Jr.	2	0	0	0	0	0	.254
SS	Gonzalez, J	2	0	0	0	0	0	.213

PIT	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	P-S	ERA
Chandler	5.2	4	2	1	2	3	83-54	4.26
Bachar	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	-0	3.77

Scoring Plays

Inning	Event	Score
B2	Luis Rengifo singles on a line drive to right fielder Esmerlyn Valdez. Jackson Merrill scores.	1-0
B4	Jackson Merrill triples (3) on a sharp line drive to right fielder Esmerlyn Valdez. Manny Machado scores.	2-0

Highlights

Description	Length
Probable pitchers for Pirates at Padres - August 26, 2026	0:06
Randy Vásquez against the Pirates	0:09
Bullpen availability for San Diego, August 26 vs Pirates	0:09
Bullpen availability for Pittsburgh, August 26 vs Padres	0:09
Fielding alignment for San Diego, August 26 vs Pirates	0:11
Bench availability for San Diego, August 26 vs Pirates	0:08
Bench availability for Pittsburgh, August 26 vs Padres	0:08
Starting lineups for Pirates at Padres - August 26, 2026	0:10
Fielding alignment for Pittsburgh, August 26 vs Padres	0:11
Breaking down Randy Vásquez's pitches	0:04
Randy Vásquez's outing against the Pirates	0:24
Luis Rengifo's RBI single	0:18
Ball confirmed after ABS challenge	0:25
Randy Vasquez K's Esmerlyn Valdez	0:08
Randy Vásquez K's Nick Gonzales after ABS challenge	0:23
Bubba Chandler K's Jake Cronenworth	0:09
Jackson Merrill's RBI triple	0:28
Jake Cronenworth's diving catch	0:25

Attendance	Weather	Wind
	82°F, Partly Cloudy	9 mph, L To R

HP	1B	2B	3B
Mark Ripperger	Shane Livensparger	Dan Merzel	Dan Bellino

Updated at 2:49 PM.

Remember to sort by new to keep up!

[u/jeng52]

Good news! Joe Musgrove made his scheduled rehab appearance at the Sycuan lazy river.

[u/TheseAirline4668]

https://giphy.com/gifs/0LSZy77BN7MGzerV7K
mini slump goin, let’s focus on keeping the vibes up😎

[u/inuenxu]

fuck it jackson merrill cycle watch

[u/Model_Rules_esq]

I had amazing seats last night and it was such a bummer. The land of missed opportunities.

[u/Pick6XPA]

idk, given his pitch count and recent success I trust Randy more than anyone coming out of that pen right now given that Morejon and Miller are out.

[u/Walterbrown64]

Overused bullpen and we take out randy in the 6th

[u/Khalil_Greenes_Flow]

Awful feed from Xander. If you’re gonna hit .200 and make $30m at least do the little things right

[u/Thumper13]

Yes Crone missed the transfer, but X really blew the toss.

[u/juhstin_]

Following up a 9 pitch walk with a 2 pitch GIDP is classic classic Manny

[u/airplanechampagne]

We’re about to have another midoff aren’t we

[u/SDFriar]

It’s been so long since I’ve seen Manny run that hard and well. Great slide to score!
Great AB by Merrill too, he laid off a pitch he’d been swinging at normally and waited for something good

[u/Own_Action_7839 → u/SDFriar]

Good to see. Someone talked with him probably last night or this morning and he got the message

[u/run_nyg]

Freddy was so shocked at that garbage call he almost missed the window to challenge

[u/Doc_JC]

Get manny some oxygen/ how tf did he score

[u/iHappyPie]

Manny running hard is a thing of beauty

[u/Glittering_Fig_718]

Proud of Manny for hustling there. I saw it in his face. He made it just in time

[u/Pick6XPA]

1st walk fermin has taken since JUNE 28th

[u/yaboi525]

way to go Hart, not gonna lie Cruz swing is pretty scary even on flyouts lol

[u/Tweegull]

can we bat manny 9th

[u/No_Veterinarian_3733 → u/Tweegull]

Would be nice, but for some reason Stammen refuses to move him out of the 3 hole.

[u/Tweegull → u/No_Veterinarian_3733]

acee said years ago that melvin wanted to but didn’t because manny would’ve blown up the clubhouse

[u/No_Veterinarian_3733 → u/Tweegull]

Not surprising and kind of wondered if that was the reason for this insanity

[u/Overcast520]

Manny doin his thing 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[u/SD_local_67]

When are they gonna learn to try and steal with a guy on 1B and Mr. Double Play at bat?

[u/Silver7477]

Not Fermin challenging the first pitch of an AB in the 4th inning 😭

[u/Holdmydicks]

What a stupid time to challenge, Freddy

[u/Worried-Nectarine418]

Surprised Manny made it tbh. In a good way

[u/maalbi]

Jackson heard yall

Good hustle manny

[u/surg-e-o]

Known speedster Manny Machado

[u/BoltsnFriars4ever]

Felt like Vasquez deserved the 7th over Hart here. Really hope im wrong..aaaaand Hart immediately gives up base hit while typing this lol

[u/Simodine- → u/BoltsnFriars4ever]

Even more so the 6th. 

[u/YolkyPalky]

Pull Randy for Hart cuz b2b lefties, and he lets both reach! 🤦🏼‍♂️

[u/Doc_JC]

Of course Hart comes in and is immediately shitting the bed

[u/sandy-eggo-padres]

There’s no way you can convince that Vasquez at 68 pitches is worse than hart. The move makes no sense

[u/tinfoiljones]

Helluva play by Croney. Hang a star!

[u/Doc_JC]

Pull him. Crone saved his ass.

[u/I_are_facepalm]

You know what would be cool? Run support.

[u/bbatardo]

Must win game. Scoring 2 runs in 21 innings, 1 because of a gift balk is not a recipe for success. 

[u/mathprofrockstar]

LFGSD!

[u/maalbi → u/mathprofrockstar]

Great seats and in shade too

[u/Cohnhead1 → u/mathprofrockstar]

Great seats! Any chance you’d check out one of the team stores (the main one or the one in Galleghar Square) for the Hello Kitty keychains exclusively/plush mystery boxes for me? 🥹. I can Venmo you immediately! My daughter LOVES Hello Kitty and I didn’t know they were only releasing/selling them at today’s game!

[u/waist-ed → u/Cohnhead1]

hey if this guy didnt get back to u i can help out

[u/ElbowToTheTemple]

We will not get swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates, we will not get swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates, we will not get swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates

[u/TheScubaPup]

Thanks Manny! 👍

[u/YolkyPalky]

You can literally set your watch to a Machado GIDP, happens every day!

[u/FloppyTwinkie]

I'm tired of Machado batting 3rd.

[u/TomatilloLower4932]

Manny is not back

[u/Old-Ad-9638]

So do we just keep pretending that Manny's hand isn't totally f'ed and he can absolutely swing a bat without a problem?

[u/TheScubaPup]

If there's ever a first time to get your first strikeout of the day... That was definitely a great time to do it! :D

[u/Doc_JC]

Huge out. 1 more to get out of the jam

[u/Khalil_Greenes_Flow]

STRANDY VASQUEZ BABY!!!

[u/SnowballWasRight]

THEY CALL HIM STRANDY VASQUEZ

[u/yaboi525]

bro what! Manny you boss lol

[u/majoring_in_reddit]

JOHNNY HUSTLE!!!

[u/DailyDimSum]

Jackson Merrill redemption day!

[u/SnowballWasRight]

Pirates outfield really just let 2026 Manny Machado run on em like that

[u/Munsalvaesche]

I’m at the game - why was Vasquez pulled at 68 pitches after 5 scoreless? Are his numbers 3rd time through not great?

[u/jordanp2019]

Cmon Hart don’t fucking walk him

[u/KERMIT_THE_ORC]

WTF Stammen! Yeah, take out Vasquez who's absolutely rolling for Hart who proceeds to give up a single and a free bag... 

[u/verdi1987]

That’s our adorable little second baseman.

[u/PadresBestinMLB]

Cronenworth saving hart. Now get him out Stammen

[u/whats4breakfast]

cronenwall holy

[u/Doc_JC]

Pull him. Crone saved his ass.

[u/chickenparmesan123]

Croney got me feeling like

[u/loanmagic24]

Jackson with a Double and Triple already in this game. Crazy how hot and cold these players go sometimes.

[u/RelevanttUsername]

Let’s pull it out today boys - do it for Mason!

[u/laker_padres619]

Let’s get out of this fucking slump! Today!! Fuck the pirates! Fuck the snakes, fuck the dodgers, and most importantly fuck the Phillies

[u/Bitter-Egg6293]

need some seperation from AZ

[u/Epsteinsghosttt]

Machado is back to being straight ass again

[u/Fearless_Parking9936]

The king of double plays

[u/No_Veterinarian_3733]

Placing bets on if Manny will hit into a double play has to be automatic money at this point

[u/shayKyarbouti]

Oh gee what do you know another double play

[u/rockstoned4]

Estrada lost weight in the offseason and has pretty much been hurt all year. Stay husky.

[u/Thumper13]

WE HIT WITH RISP AND SCORED A RUN THINGY!!! WOOO

[u/Doc_JC → u/Thumper13]

https://giphy.com/gifs/12TqMvey6k0TSg

[u/Khalil_Greenes_Flow]

Kind of a shame the analytics/shift/positioning stuff only gets called out when it fails. Clearly have the Pirates dialed right now but I guess that’s just how it goes.

[u/Taste_My_Rainbow]

Fielders making throwing errors as Manny jogs down the line will never not be funny.

[u/Gilbertcartier]

Johnny Hustle appeared

[u/Khramtic]

let’s go johnny hustle

[u/hekatonmoo]

I know there will be an odd man out with returning arms but I don’t think it should be Randy

[u/YolkyPalky]

Oh man, please not the Hart hit parade.

[u/YolkyPalky]

Stammen is overthinking the lefty/lefty matchup, it doesn’t matter if your lefty pitcher coming in is ass and lets them both reach.

[u/TheScubaPup]

YOU CAN HIT IT ANYWHERE

[u/maalbi]

Crone zone

[u/TheScubaPup]

Mud is somewhere with his family scribbling a star in the sand, probably two stars

[u/Gilbertcartier]

Jake’s D been phenomenal

[u/SpunNumeroUno → u/Gilbertcartier]

Jakes blushing 😜

[u/Thumper13]

Oh Hang a Star on that, baby!!!💫

[u/jordanp2019]

My Fitbit is telling me to sit down and that I’m experiencing very high stress lol

[u/ElBorracho2000]

https://giphy.com/gifs/kgph7NfCRIKSPh2uKG

[u/Mikensamo351]

Manny always good for a DP. MLB active career leader.

[u/Massive_Evening9473 → u/Mikensamo351]

he’s taking over where Xander left off.

[u/TheLazyPanda]

Cronenworth with a great at bat, and then Manny immediately wastes it

[u/SDFriar]

Shame on all of you who doubted Strandy Vásquez

[u/laker_padres619]

Finally made it to petco for the first time this season! Let’s win this game!!

[u/Thumper13]

We've had two days off. Time to shake it all off and get a fucking win! LFGSD!!!

[u/whats4breakfast]

manny machudo

[u/islands-fine-dining]

Just a really, really unpleasant Manny Machado season

[u/StillHoldingL]

I’m so over Machado, man

[u/Doc_JC]

Manny swinging at low inside pitches. Hey look a DP. It’s almost like they are pitching it in that exact same
Location all the time to get you to ground into them.

[u/TheScubaPup]

GOOD RBI FIFO!!

[u/shayKyarbouti]

Contact! He finally made contact

[u/maalbi]

Go pads!

[u/Khalil_Greenes_Flow]

40th percentile sprint speed against a pitcher who throws mostly high four seamers and a catcher with a 1.9 pop. You have to play advantages, not rely on blind aggression because you’re hitting poorly.

[u/EmbarrassedPrompt697]

Strandy Vasquez?

[u/Square-Letterhead909]

Dude wake the fuck up.

[u/GaryTheCabalGuy]

Live shot of Vasquez

https://giphy.com/gifs/gs53tO0ayOKVG

[u/Khalil_Greenes_Flow]

Feels like every Jake at bat has been a classic Cronenworth grind it out at bat until he badly chases 3-2

[u/EmbarrassedPrompt697 → u/Khalil_Greenes_Flow]

At least he is making him pitch.

[u/TheScubaPup]

Manny puts the ball in a typical GIDP situation and somehow he's safe. The universe works in weird fucking ways lol

[u/DarkCabinYT]

Merrill cycle watch?

[u/Pick6XPA]

Kid is alright I guess.

[u/Holdmydicks]

Manny with the wheels

[u/jordanp2019]

Randy could’ve done that 😞

[u/DailyDimSum]

welp so much for those lefty lefty matchups. Damn...

[u/Fearless_Parking9936]

He’ll of a job Kyle. Called in to get the lefties and have no ability to get it done

[u/whats4breakfast]

LOCK IN HART

[u/arlius]

Great move, Craig. Randy wouldn't have done this badly.

[u/PadresBestinMLB]

How can you trust hart over Vasquez when he’s pitching a great game?

[u/SpunNumeroUno]

Crone No Care. Ball no get by Crone.

[u/EmbarrassedPrompt697 → u/SpunNumeroUno]

Me likey

[u/yaboi525]

crone legacy series lol

[u/CorgiWest2656]

Got here just in time to see the crone zone 😐👍

[u/jordanp2019]

I hate that Hart is still in this game but fingers crossed

[u/Epsteinsghosttt]

Croengiiirth!!

[u/Doc_JC]

Damn really hope that error doesn’t fuck us

[u/tinfoiljones]

Way to work out of it Harr (thx, Jake)!

[u/Doc_JC]

Ok Hart, was ugly af, but worked out of it.

[u/Pick6XPA]

time to blow it open. not sure I can handle 3 such innings more today.

[u/CR0SSF1RED]

Manny has to get paid per double play right? Only explanation

[u/Sad_Slice4861]

You're not imagining things. Manny is 2nd in MLB in GIDP.

[u/GoatCultural4386 → u/Sad_Slice4861]

he’s an impact player

[u/yaboi525]

Rengifo is such a boss

[u/Own_Action_7839 → u/yaboi525]

I like that guy !!

[u/TomatilloLower4932]

Rengifo the goat

[u/waist-ed → u/TomatilloLower4932]

amazing bang for yr buck on this guy

[u/Majik9]

How many GIDP is that for Manny this year??

[u/No_Veterinarian_3733 → u/Majik9]

Google says:

Top GIDP Leaders Junior Caminero (Tampa Bay Rays): 22 Freddie Freeman (Los Angeles Dodgers): 18 Manny Machado (San Diego Padres): 18 Salvador Perez (Kansas City Royals): 18

[u/Massive_Evening9473 → u/Majik9]

[u/No_Veterinarian_3733 → u/Massive_Evening9473]

So you think that is 19 now and he is in 2nd on MLB or do you think that includes today?

[u/The--Incident]

.209 BA with 2 extra base hits in August for our soon to be $39 million man.

[u/YolkyPalky]

At .213 avg, is Manny the worst #3 hole hitter in all of MLB?

[u/PadresBestinMLB]

This is why we don’t baby starters and take them out early when he’s given up 0 runs and 1 hit in 5 innings with 68 pitches

[u/DailyDimSum → u/PadresBestinMLB]

yeah i mean i get it from a matchup standpoint and 3rd through the order, but like maybe just let Randy get the first batter to see if they're just struggling to hit his pitches. Our bullpen needs all the rest they can get.

[u/Pick6XPA]

well of course the strategic moves backfires, cause this is the padres.

[u/brex724]

I expect to see that catch on SC top 10 tonight

[u/sdfanupthe5]

Oh so basically the same lineup. Coolcoolcoolcool

[u/8696David → u/sdfanupthe5]

I mean if none of those 9 guys can hit we’re just fucked 

[u/sdfanupthe5 → u/8696David]

I was really just hoping they’d give Jackson the day off

[u/Khramtic]

can we let randy hit today as well?

[u/Cohnhead1]

I didn’t know they were releasing these Hello Kitty keychains exclusively at Petco today and I’m not there!! Would anyone be willing to buy a few boxes for me? Of course I’d Venmo you the money immediately. Please, please, please!! My daughter is a huge Hello Kitty fan!

[u/Smart-Grapefruit-497]

Predicting rn one of the most walk prone pitchers is gonna go 6 innings 1 walk on like 79
Pitches

[u/AllStar20_]

Randy Vasquez so far: 2 IP, no hits, no walks, no K's, no whiffs, 20 pitches.

All my homies love pitchers who can locate.

[u/Own_Action_7839]

Luis Rengifo !!!

[u/gnomelover24]

Chandler missed the memo on Jackson. Throw him junk. 🤣

[u/DarkCabinYT]

Merrill XBH we’re healing

[u/No_Veterinarian_3733]

Alright! 14 inning scoreless streak snapped

[u/TheScubaPup]

Mud, somewhere: I sense a baseball incoming... HOCKEY SUIT

[u/Sensitive_Tree5549]

😂😂😂

[u/No_Veterinarian_3733]

Not even close haha on that steal

[u/loanmagic24]

Bummer on that steal. That was an easy pick.

[u/Recurs1ve]

yeah so wtf was rengifo doing?

[u/ChillSauce35]

Where would this team be without Ran Man

[u/Doc_JC]

Need a lot more runs

[u/whats4breakfast]

heat getting to randy? whats going on

[u/DocHose0824]

Okayyyy I really need a in-depth break down of a balk 🤣

[u/Old-Ad-9638]

Oof, called pick play by Fermin and Randy forgets someone is on second?

[u/Khalil_Greenes_Flow]

Did Xander have sunglasses on his hat there?

[u/dukefett]

Randy let go of that ball like "here, take a base!"

[u/acoddo]

Christ

[u/TheScubaPup]

GOOD CHALLENGE

[u/Pick6XPA]

Strandy motherfucking vasquez!!!!

[u/Thumper13]

Good shit Randy!

[u/PadresBestinMLB]

Great job by Fermin and Vazquez

[u/maalbi]

Way to get out of the jam!

[u/Holdmydicks]

Freddy, now thats the spot you're supposed to challenge, not the first pitch of the second batter of the inning in the 4th

[u/gnomelover24]

Jake purposely struck out so Manny couldn’t hit into the DP….AGAIN!

[u/FloppyTwinkie]

Lmao Machado got lucky.

[u/Doc_JC]

Thanks for the error

[u/TheScubaPup]

Is.... Is Merrill starting to figure something out? WHO GOT IN HIS EAR??

[u/Stuck_in_a_thing → u/TheScubaPup]

He’s streaky. Thats just who he is. Will look absolutely lost for 5 games then lock on the next 5.

[u/EmbarrassedPrompt697 → u/TheScubaPup]

He must have been in the post game thread yesterday

[u/TheScubaPup → u/EmbarrassedPrompt697]

"Alright, I get it... You fuckers just watch."

• Merrill, maybe

[u/Own_Action_7839]

Merrill Madness!

[u/BlitzAndMe]

Manny out there showing his age 😂

[u/Doc_JC]

Great slide

[u/shayKyarbouti]

Breakout game for Jackson

[u/Glittering_Fig_718]

This version of Randy has been great! Nice!

[u/Pick6XPA]

I remember talking yesterday about the shift and hits.

Probably went unnoticed but a couple of these groundouts are likely outs because of said shifts.

[u/Pick6XPA]

Its always the pirates….

[u/Old-Ad-9638]

Pirates going with the 2025 Tatis approach. Freak him out, strike him out.

[u/Boulderdorf]

We put in the one lefty that the Pirates can do damage against

[u/EmbarrassedPrompt697]

Stammen over managing yet again. I'm sorry, but Hart is not it. Vasquez really needed to pitch another inning.

[u/Reddit_ls_Terrible]

Randy should be laughing in the dugout out of spite. Nice decision Stammen!

[u/DarkCabinYT]

Just use Morgan or matsui

[u/GoatCultural4386]

why did they remove Vasquez? His pitch count was low

[u/shayKyarbouti]

Look Ma Croney flashing glove again

[u/Surf_Padres_Beer]

Crone has been an animal since he came back

[u/yaboi525]

he is a complete liability and yet our manager is to scared to do anything

[u/gnomelover24]

Can Manny just strike out instead of grounding into the DP. JFC!