{"id":693291,"date":"2026-03-30T21:18:15","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T21:18:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/693291\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T21:18:15","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T21:18:15","slug":"alternating-catcher-starts-as-luis-campusano-back-behind-plate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/693291\/","title":{"rendered":"Alternating catcher starts as Luis Campusano back behind plate"},"content":{"rendered":"

Four games into the season, the Padres are so far alternating their starts at catcher as Luis Campusano<\/strong> is behind the plate for the second time this season for Monday\u2019s 6:40 p.m. first pitch against the San Francisco Giants.<\/p>\n

Campusano struck out all three times in his plate appearances on Friday but was 2-for-3 in ABS challenges and instrumental in calling a successful gameplan for Michael King<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Campusano has used ABS the last two years at Triple-A El Paso.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, he\u2019s pretty good at it,\u201d Padres manager Craig Stammen<\/strong> said. \u201cHe\u2019s self-proclaimed pretty good at it. So, you know, he\u2019s definitely a weapon behind the plate in the ABS challenging and he used them very appropriately. You know, got Michael out of that one inning. \u2026 It was a 3-1 pitch, got it 3-2 and then struck him out on the 3-2 fastball. So, yeah, if you use it effectively, it can change the game a little bit.\u201d<\/p>\n

The idea is that Campusano\u2019s bat becomes the game-changer it was last year at El Paso, where he paired 25 homers with a 1.036 OPS.<\/p>\n

Campusano, however, hasn\u2019t had a hit in the majors since Aug. 31, 2024 after going 0-for-21 with six walks and 11 strikeouts across 27 plate appearances spread out various disjointed stints as a DH last year.<\/p>\n

Freddy Fermin<\/strong> is 1-for-6 with a walk and two strikeouts in his two starts at catcher.<\/p>\n

Campusano will bat ninth as he did on Friday night.<\/p>\n

Meantime, the rest of the lineup is the same as Saturday\u2019s, the only other time the Padres have faced a right-hander through four games.<\/p>\n

\n

New series starts today. pic.twitter.com\/JXND98Y2A2<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 San Diego Padres (@Padres) March 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Gavin Sheets<\/strong> (0-for-8), Campusano (0-for-3), Ty France<\/strong> (0-for-3) and Bryce Johnson<\/strong> (no plate appearances) are all still looking for their first hits.<\/p>\n

The Giants are in town to start a three-game series<\/a>, the Padres\u2019 first NL West games<\/a> of the year.<\/p>\n

This story will be updated when the Giants post their lineup.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Monday\u2019s pitching matchup<\/p>\n

Giants RHP Landen Roupp (2026 debut)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The third-year starter has a 3.73 ERA in 157 innings since making his debut in 2024, striking out 149 batters while fashioning a 1.45 WHIP. He has a 3.86 ERA in 21 innings against the Padres, but allowed nine runs in 13 innings across three starts last year. Nick Castellanos<\/strong>, Gavin Sheets<\/strong> and Manny Machado<\/strong> accounted for three of the 13 homers that Roupp allowed last year.<\/p>\n

Here is how Roupp has fared against current Padres:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Padres RHP Walker Buehler (2026 debut)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The longtime Dodger had a 4.93 ERA over 126 innings last year while with the Red Sox and Phillies. Buehler is 7-2 with a 2.79 ERA in 14 games (12 starts) against the Giants in the regular season, but he has not faced them since 2022. Buehler has a 2.18 ERA in six starts at Petco Park.<\/p>\n

Only three Giants hitters have history with Buehler:<\/p>\n