JP Sears’ start on Friday was a one-off as the team recalled right-hander Bradgley Rodriguez ahead of Saturday’s 5:40 p.m. start against the Colorado Rockies.

That again gives the Padres a nine-man bullpen.

The 21-year-old Rodriguez debuted in late May and threw 1⅔ scoreless innings in his lone appearance, striking out a batter, walking one and hitting another without giving up a run.

He had a 3.22 ERA in 22 ⅓ innings to start the year at Double-A San Antonio and reported to Triple-A El Paso after his cup of coffee, posting a 3.14 ERA over 14⅓ innings.

That stint included arm trouble sidelining him twice — two weeks in June and then most of July and August.

With Sears starting Friday, Rodriguez is essentially replacing rookie David Morgan, who went on the injured list on Friday with shoulder inflammation. Sears was optioned back to El Paso on Saturday to make room for Rodriguez.

A catcher change

Like a lot of Padres, Freddy Fermin hasn’t hit much since the Padres return from Coors Field.

So he’ll give way behind the plate to Elias Díaz, who will catch Dylan Cease for the first time since before the trade deadline.

Saturday night in San Diego. pic.twitter.com/VdXd37sDuw

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 13, 2025

Fermin is 1-for-10 with three strikeouts in four starts so far this homestand. He is also hitting .258/.296/.355 with one home run in 30 games since the trade from Kansas City to San Diego.

All three catchers have a sub-4.00 ERA with Padres pitchers this year, with Díaz (3.54) leading the way, followed by the released Martín Maldonado (3.66) and then Fermin (3.66).

Díaz has worked mostly with Nick Pivetta since Fermin arrived in the trade that sent right-handers Ryan Bergert and Stephen Kolek to the Royals. Díaz has a 3.94 ERA in four starts with Cease, better than Fermin’s 4.41 ERA in seven starts and Maldonado’s 4.93 ERA in 19 pairings with Cease.

Díaz is hitting .202/.269/.331 with eight homers on the season and is 2-for-9 in limited action in September.

Díaz will hit ninth.

Here is how the Rockies will line up for Game 3:

Lineups are set for Saturday! pic.twitter.com/RxelnpjLZK

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) September 13, 2025

Saturday’s pitching matchup

Rockies RHP Bradley Blalock (1-4, 8.62 ERA)

The 24-year-old is making his first start in the majors since Aug. 14, when he allowed seven runs in 3⅔ innings to the Diamondbacks. Blalock had a 12.21 ERA in three starts last month and an 8.90 ERA in 15 starts (60⅔ IP) at Triple-A Albuquerque this year. He has allowed 13 runs in 10⅓ innings across three appearances (two starts) in his career against the Padres, including 12 runs in 3⅔ innings in May in the Padres’ 21-0 romp at Coors Field.

Here is how Blalock has fared against current Padres:

Padres RHP Dylan Cease (7-11, 4.71 ERA)

He beat the Rockies in his last start at Coors Field, allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out five over five-plus innings. Cease has now gone two straight starts without allowing a homer. He has allowed 20 in 151 innings this year. Cease is 3-2 with a 4.09 ERA in 33 innings in his career against the Rockies.

Here is how Cease has fared against current Rockies: