After his first day out of the starting lineup since July 9, Ty France is back at first base and batting cleanup on Saturday against the Houston Astros.

First pitch is at 4:15 p.m. (Padres.TV, KFMB 8.1/CBS)

Saturday afternoon baseball. pic.twitter.com/TJ3BAESL5k

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) August 8, 2026

France (.864 OPS) struck out in two plate appearances off the bench on Friday, the first as a pinch-hitter with runners on first and second against Astros left-hander Steven Okert. He later struck out to end the eighth inning.

France is hitting .367/.402/.644 with six homers in 24 games since returning from wrist/hand soreness stemming from a hit by pitch.

The Padres are in the midst of playing 16 straight games. Their next off-day is Thursday, ahead of the start of a six-game trip through Cleveland and New York.

“He’s been playing quite a bit here lately, and we’re in that big stretch of a lot of games without a day off,” Padres manager Craig Stammen said. “So I think this week, this homestand, there’ll be a few guys getting a day to catch a breath and then get back at it after that.”

All the regulars are in Saturday’s lineup, with Gavin Sheets (.700 OPS) serving as the DH and in the seven-hole, Jake Cronenworth (.603 OPS) back at second base and in the two-hole and Luis Rengifo (.622 OPS) playing left field and batting ninth.

Friday’s loss dropped the Padres (60-57) two games behind the Diamondbacks (62-55) and Phillies (62-55) in the race for the N’’s final two wild-card spots. The fourth team in that race, the Cardinals (60-57), are 1½ games behind the Padres, whose postseason odds at Fangraphs.com sit at 32%.

Here is how Houston (60-57) will line up for Game 2:

Let’s do it again.

⚾️: 6:15 PM CT
📺: @SpaceCityHN
🎙️: @SportsTalk790 & 740 AM | Spanish: 102.9 HD2#ChaseTheFight x @reliantenergy pic.twitter.com/mra1m63RCy

— Houston Astros (@astros) August 8, 2026

 

Saturday’s pitching matchup

Astros RHP Peter Lambert (8-5, 3.06 ERA)

The former Rocky is thriving after parts of four seasons in Colorado (6.28 ERA, 243 ⅔ IP). The 29-year-old Sam Dimas High product has a 2.10 ERA over his last six starts. Lambert has a 7.67 ERA in 27 innings against the Padres, but has not faced them since throwing 6 ⅔ innings (4.05 ERA) across four relief appearances in 2024.

Here is how Lambert has fared against current Padres:

Padres RHP Michael King (6-8, 3.45 ERA)

He has 3.18 ERA over his last six starts, but the Padres are 2-4 in those games. King allowed three runs on five hits and four walks in five innings in a loss on Monday in Arizona. He has a 2.74 ERA in 23 innings against the Astros. King last faced them in a start last year, allowing two runs in 5⅔ innings.

Here is how King has fared against current Astros: