Padres Recall Lucas Giolito for Season Debut

After hitting free agency in the offseason, Giolito was passed over by multiple MLB teams. Giolito has a mounting recent injury history that includes missing the AL Wild Card series in 2025 due to a right flexor strain. Before his Tommy John surgery in 2024, Giolito played for three different teams in 2023, struggling to an ERA of 6.89 in six games with the Los Angeles Angels and 7.04 in six games with the Cleveland Guardians.

Since April, Giolito has been ramping up his baseball activities and has pitched for both Single-A Lake Elsinore and Double-A San Antonio. For Padres fans, the results left a lot to be desired. In four total games between the two levels, Giolito posted a 4.76 ERA and 1.41 WHIP, allowing 18 hits and six walks in 17.0 innings of work. Giolito understandably had some rust after not pitching in live action since last September.

The Padres' rotation has been decimated this year. After losing Yu Darvish earlier in the offseason to season-ending elbow surgery, the Padres also remain without Joe Musgrove and Nick Pivetta, who both have no timetable for a return. Giolito will replace Matt Waldron in the rotation, who will likely move back to the bullpen once he is back from the 15-Day IL.

Expectations should be tempered for Giolito, who will make his debut on Sunday Night Baseball. He's had a recent history of starting slow, then heating up later in the season. In 2025, he had a 6.42 ERA through his first seven starts but registered a sparkling 2.51 ERA in his final 19 starts. His final start at Double-A saw him pitch six shutout innings, allowing just three hits and no walks.

If Giolito has shaken the rust off in his four starts in the minors, the Padres could be adding a game-changer to their rotation. The Padres are just a half-game back of the NL Division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers, and are hoping that Giolito can stabilize the rotation until the rest of the starters can get back to full health.