The Padres have five starters in the rotation again.
It remains to be seen how soon Michael King and Yu Darvish will be out, so Matt Waldron could be the next man up if the Padres use six starters during this stretch of 26 games in 27 days.
The knuckleballer threw 51 of his 70 pitches for strikes over five innings on Wednesday, striking out five to lead Triple-A El Paso to a 14-4 win over visiting Albuquerque.
Waldron (1-1, 5.00 ERA) allowed two runs on six hits and did not walk a batter.
It was his Waldron’s second start with El Paso but his first as a official member of the roster as the Padres ended his rehab assignment (oblique) on Sunday. His previous start was last Friday, which made Ryan Bergert the option to start Tuesday’s game in San Francisco.
Left-hander Austin Krob (5.25 ERA) earned his first save with three strikeouts over three scoreless innings.
Right fielder Bryce Johnson (.856 OPS) drove in four runs on three hits, including a double.
Left fielder Tirso Ornelas (.837 OPS), catcher Cody Roberts (.887 OPS) and third baseman Ripken Reyes (.600 OPS) all also had three hits. Roberts and designated hitter Yonathan Perlaza (.798 OPS) also both doubled.
El Paso is 30-29.
Wednesday’s scoreboard
DOUBLE-A SAN ANTONIO (28-25)
Midland 10, Missions 7 (10): LHP Jagger Haynes (4.21 ERA) struck out six and allowed two runs on two hits and four walks in six innings in the start. 3B Devin Ortiz (.716 OPS) went 3-for-5 with an RBI. 1B Romeo Sanabria (.861 OPS) went 1-for-4 with two RBIs. DH Marcos Castañon (.864 OPS) went 1-for-4 with a double, an RBI, a walk and a run scored. LF Kai Murphy (.584 OPS) went 2-for-3 with an RBI, a walk and a run scored.
HIGH SINGLE-A FORT WAYNE (27-26)
TinCaps 5, Beloit 3: CF Kai Roberts (.591 OPS) went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. LF Jake Snider (.688 OPS) drove in two runs on two hits. DH Braedon Karpathios (.808 OPS) doubled in two runs. RHP Tyson Neighbors (1.25 ERA) struck out two in 1⅔ scoreless innings for his fifth save. RHP Clark Candiotti (4.97 ERA) struck out five and allowed two runs in 3⅔ innings in the start.
LOW SINGLE-A LAKE ELSINORE (26-27)
Storm 10, Modesto 6: LHP Kash Mayfield (4.43 ERA) struck out four over two no-hit innings in his first appearance since shoulder discomfort sidelined him on May 13. C Lamar King Jr. (.763 OPS) went 5-for-5 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored. 1B Victor Figueroa (.942 OPS) went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored. 3B Zach Evans (.802 OPS) drove in four runs on three hits, including a double.
ROOKIE ACL PADRES (5-19)
Rangers 7, Padres 6 (7): RHP Humberto Cruz (5.19 ERA) allowed three runs in 2⅔ innings in the start. 2B Luis De Leon (.728 OPS) drove in three runs on two hits. C Jesus Castro (.774 OPS) went 2-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored. SS Yimy Tovar (.721 OPS) drove in two runs on three hits.
