Padres pregame: Mason Miller expected to return from paternity list; I hope Adrián Morejón will be available

The Padres expect to welcome an elite reliever to their bullpen on Wednesday.

The other?

GOOD That of Adrian Morejón the status remains a bit uncertain ahead of Game 4 of the National League Division Series.

“I’m waiting for him to come and see how he feels, but he felt a little better after the game last night,” the Padres manager said. Craig Stammen said before the 7 p.m. first pitch on FS1/FOX ONE. “So I’m hoping today we’re hoping he’ll be available.”

At least Mason Miller was activated from the paternity list, replacing the left-hander Wandy Peralta on the list.

Stammen said he would allow Miller to make announcements regarding the newest member of a growing family, but he provided a general update.

“Everything went well yesterday,” Stammen said.

The Brewers have not yet announced their lineup, but a left-handed starter (see pitching matchup below) has led the Padres to stack their lineup with right-handed hitters.

Game 4. pic.twitter.com/oRpB6yjVqi

– San Diego Padres (@Padres) October 7, 2026

Variables start with Austin Hays tee off in DH and in the five-hole between first baseman Ty France and shortstop Alexandre Bogaerts.

Hays is still looking for his first hit of the postseason (0-for-7, 3 Ks) after hitting .380/.396/.560 in 53 plate appearances against lefties this year.

“We have some right-handed options against a left-handed pitcher,” Stammen said. “Hays was kind of in this spot here at the end of the season. He’s done really well against left-handed pitchers over his career, and here in the last month or so. (Miguel) Andújar was definitely in consideration. We also like him to come off the bench to have a big at-bat, similar to the one he had last night. He had some big pitches at bat, didn’t necessarily end in hits, but worked the pitcher and wreaked havoc.

As for left field, the right-handed hitter Samad Taylor will start again Dustin Harris and bats ninth, pushing the second baseman Jake Cronenworth in the eight-hole.

Wednesday pitching match

Brewers LHP Robert Gasser (5-5, 3.87 ERA)

Part of the package that brought Josh Hader from Milwaukee to San Diego in 2022, the 27-year-old makes his debut at Petco Park and his first start against the team that drafted him in the second round of Houston in 2021.

Gasser underwent Tommy John surgery in 2024, made two starts (5⅔ IP, 6 R, 2 ER) when he returned to the mound in 2025 and pitched 109 ⅓ innings in the majors this year while commuting to and from Triple-A Nashville.

Gasser has a 2.86 ERA over his last 12 starts, striking out 60 against 21 walks in 63 innings. The Brewers went 10-2 in those games, with Gasser leading the way with seven innings and 107 pitches as recently as September 19, his penultimate start of the regular season.

Two Padres have history with Gasser: Gavin Leaves is 1 for 2 with a two-run homer in 2024 while with the White Sox and Miguel Andujar is 2-for-2 with a double after facing him last year while with the Reds.

Padres RHP Walker Buehler (9-6, 4.63 ERA)

He makes his playoff debut in 2026 after not appearing in the NL Wild Card Series and missing his turn in the rotation in Milwaukee for the birth of a child. Buehler has allowed three fewer earned runs in his last 13 starts (3.62 ERA), with the Padres going 10-3 in those games. That includes beating the Brewers with six one-run innings at Petco Park in August.

Buehler has a 3.04 ERA in 94 ⅔ innings in the postseason. He earned the win (5 IP, 0 ER) and save (1 IP, 2 Ks) in his last two 2024 World Series playoff appearances for the Dodgers.

Here’s how Buehler fared against the current Brewers in the regular season: