Padres pregame: Alternating catcher starts as Luis Campusano gets back behind plate Walker Buehler making Padres debut against a familiar foe Luis Campusano #12 of the San Diego Padres looks on before their spring training game against the Seattle Mariners at the Peoria Sports Complex on Thursday, March 5, 2026 in Peoria, Ariz.is behind the plate for the second time this season for Monday’s 6:40 p. m. first pitch against the San Francisco Giants. 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 forsaid. “He’s self-proclaimed pretty good at it. So, you know, he’s 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. … 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.” The idea is that Campusano’s bat becomes the game-changer it was last year at El Paso, where he paired 25 homers with a 1.036 OPS. Campusano, however, hasn’t 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.Campusano will bat ninth as he did on Friday night. Meantime, the rest of the lineup is the same as Saturday’s, the only other time the Padres have faced a right-hander through four games.of the year, and are employing their third different leadoff hitter in four games. They’ve scored just one run so far this season.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.Padres RHP Walker Buehler 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 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.San Diego loses population as immigration nosedives. What are the consequences? Its schools are falling apart, and voters won’t pass a bond. Could a little-used tactic help this district?Santee fire that prompted evacuations at shopping center charred 5 acres ‘Character of our community is diminished.’ Borrego Springs group asks for short-term rental regulationsWeak Pacific storm expected to largely bypass San Diego County this week