Lucas Giolito was signed earlier this season by the San Diego Padres in order to bolster their rotation depth. And, although he’s struggled with bouts of inconsistency on the mound, he’s been a serviceable starter for the Friars. In his time with the club, Giolito has posted a 5.16 ERA and 1.85 WHIP through seven games. He’s shown flashes of elite stuff but hasn’t been able to make it last.
The Padres announced that Giolito will head to the 15-day injured list ahead of Game 2 against the Atlanta Braves. He was scheduled to make a start in Game 2 against the rival Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday but will now be replaced by JP Sears, who was recalled from Triple-A El Paso in a corresponding move.
Padres’ Moves Regarding Giolito and Sears
A Recurring Elbow Injury
LHP Wandy Peralta will start tonight’s game vs. the Atlanta Braves.
We have recalled LHP JP Sears from Triple-A El Paso and placed RHP Lucas Giolito on the 15-day IL (retro to June 22) with right elbow inflammation.
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) June 23, 2026
It’s unclear if Giolito’s injury is the same that sidelined him in the end of 2025 with the Boston Red Sox. Both were described as inflammation in his throwing elbow, so it’s possible that the two are linked. However, the extent of the injury is unclear, as is Giolito’s recovery timetable.
The Padres’ pitching staff has been forced to bear the brunt of a number of injuries this season. Not only stars like Joe Musgrove and Nick Pivetta, but also contributors like Germán Márquez and Matt Waldron. While the former two have yet to begin their rehab assignments, the latter duo has and is performing well in Triple-A. Giolito will join the group now on the IL and hope to return soon in order to rebound from his difficult start to the year.
Sears Earns the Call Up
Despite not performing all that well in the minors, Sears is in the Padres’ clubhouse today, and will likely be the starter in Game 2 against L.A. That’s a big spotlight to be suddenly thrust into after having spent all of 2026 in Triple-A. He hasn’t performed all that well, but it’s important to remember that the El Paso Chihuahuas play in the Pacific Coast League. The PCL is known for inflating offensive numbers because of the stadiums’ higher altitudes.
Sears owns a 7.92 ERA through 14 starts with the Chihuahuas. However, he’s stuck out 62 batters across 63 2/3 innings pitched, which is slightly up from his 2025 numbers with the Padres and Athletics. Sears felt like more of an afterthought in the deal that brought Mason Miller to San Diego last year, and he hasn’t performed all that well. In five starts in San Diego, he’s pitched to a 5.47 ERA and 1.54 WHIP. He’ll need to turn that around in order to hold onto his rotation spot.
What About Márquez?
It seemed likely that Márquez would earn the call up. He was in the rotation earlier this season and has pitched fantastic in El Paso while on his rehab assignment. Márquez boasts a 1.76 ERA across four starts in Triple-A, and is coming off a five-inning outing in which he worked quite effectively (73 pitches). That said, he struggled with inconsistency at the big-league level earlier this year, pitching to a 5.76 ERA across 29 2/3 innings of work. Even so, it seems that he’s earned the call more than Sears.
It’s possible that the Padres simply needed someone to make the start on Saturday against the Dodgers. With Márquez having just started on Monday night, he would have been fast-tracked to make a start on just four days of rest. Instead, the Friars are opting for the well-rested youngster and hoping that he can eat some innings for them against the division rivals.
Main Photo: Steven Bisig- Imagn Images
