Estrada, 27, has pitched in 33 games this season, posting a 2-3 record with a 3.48 ERA. He has been a regular in the Padres’ bullpen, contributing as a trusted reliever through a busy schedule. This season already included multiple stints on the injured list for Estrada: elbow tendinitis in April sidelined him for about three weeks, and a separate knee inflammation kept him out for nearly two months midseason. He returned to action on July 29.
With Estrada sidelined, San Diego recalled right-hander David Morgan from Triple-A El Paso to fill the roster spot. Morgan, 26, has appeared in 18 games for the Padres this season, compiling a 2-0 record with a 4.50 ERA out of the bullpen.
The timing is notable for a Padres bullpen that has shouldered heavy workloads during recent series, including a home slate against the Pirates. The loss of Estrada adds to the challenge of maintaining depth and consistency out of the bullpen as San Diego fights to secure a postseason berth in the NL West andwild-card race.
In the Pirates series thus far, San Diego dropped the first two games, including a 1-0 defeat on Tuesday when Oneil Cruz hit a ninth-inning homer off reliever Mason Miller. On Monday, Estrada allowed the winning run to score in the 12th inning, underscoring the bullpen’s critical role in close games. Heading into the series finale, the Padres held a slim half-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks for the league’s final wild-card spot.
Estrada’s absence will test the Padres’ late-inning options, with trusted arms like Miller and left-hander Adrian Morejon having been heavily utilized. The team will look to Morgan and other bullpen components to pick up the slack and maintain momentum as the postseason push continues.
Additional notes on the Padres’ pitching depth and upcoming plans will be monitored as the club assesses timing for Estrada’s return and manages any further roster adjustments.
