Jackson Merrill shakes off the sophomore slump as the San Diego Padres eye a breakout 2026 season. Can Merrill and Fernando Tatis Jr. form MLB’s most electrifying outfield duo? Javier Reyes highlights Merrill’s resilience, powerful late-season surge, and defensive prowess, making the case for why the young center fielder remains a cornerstone for the Padres’ future.

Other topics in this player preview include Merrill’s improved walk rate, struggles against left-handed pitching, and ongoing lineup questions as rookie manager Craig Stammen weighs his options. With questions swirling around lineup construction and Merrill’s long-term ceiling, Padres fans won’t want to miss this essential look at one of baseball’s brightest wonderkids. Go Padres.

00:00 — Intro

1:08 — Jackson Merrill 2026 Preview

08:41 — Analyzing the Sophomore Slump

19:47 — 2026 Questions & Expectations

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San Diego Padres fans wonder: can Fernando Tatis Jr. reclaim his MVP-caliber form in 2026, or has his offensive peak passed? Javier Reyes previews Tatis’ upcoming season, tackling PED suspension narratives, lineup placement rumors, and the impact of injuries on his power numbers. Is the new hitting coach’s aggressive philosophy enough to spark a resurgence—and will improved lineup depth finally fuel more RBI opportunities for Tatis?

Other key topics for the first player preview include Tatis’ elite defense and speed, improved plate discipline, the reality of what his ceiling may be as a player, and more! With Gold Glove accolades, top-10 WAR status, and a history of carrying the offense, Tatis remains the face of the franchise, so should Padres fans just get better at ignoring trade rumors and public slander? All of that and more! Go Padres.

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San Diego Padres fans face a pressing question: should Fernando Tatis Jr. move down in the batting order? Javier Reyes examines the bold possibility of shifting Tatis from his usual leadoff spot, digging into advanced stats, his explosive skill set, and how new manager Craig Stammen might shake things up. With Xander Bogaerts and Manny Machado also in the mix, can a fresh approach to the lineup unlock more run production?

Javi also responds to more questions and comments in the mailbag section, covering the Padres’ low-key offseason moves, the health and potential of pitchers like Joe Musgrove, Michael King, and Nick Pivetta, whether Walker Buehler is truly cooked, Manny Machado's "attitude" problems, the team's inconsistency with driving in runs, and more! Go Padres.

00:00 — Intro

1:15 — Tatis Jr. Batting Order

11:23 — Mailbag: Pitching & Roster Moves

22:23 — Bullpen Depth & Padres Consistency

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San Diego Padres gear up for a high-stakes spring training as competition for roster spots heats up and pitching depth faces its first major blow. Javier Reyes spotlights the biggest things to keep an eye on in Spring Training, including key battles at first base and DH with Nick Castellanos, Gavin Sheets, and José Miranda vying for critical roles, questions around Joe Musgrove’s recovery and Matt Waldron’s setback. Could surprise breakouts like Will Wagner or Sung-Mun Song shake up the opening day lineup?

Plus, some chatter about the back-end of the Padres starting rotation, with eyes turning to newcomers Walker Buehler, and German Marquez, plus some competition for bullpen starts with arms like Bradley Rodriguez and Alec Jacob attempting to make their mark. Reyes weighs in on which spring training storylines matter most, how Manny Machado’s slow start could be nothing to worry about, and whether San Diego’s revised roster has the tools for a playoff run. Go Padres.

00:00 — Intro

1:22 — Spring Training Storylines

10:24 — Position Battles & Roster Intrigue

20:35 — Rotation & Bullpen Questions

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Indeed
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FanDuel
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San Diego Padres face mounting questions as spring training kicks off. Can Fernando Tatis Jr. recapture his power at the plate, and will Joe Musgrove and Michael King anchor a rotation plagued by injury and depth concerns?

Javier Reyes goes over some Spring Training news tidbits before breaking down the Padres’ relentless focus on contact hitters versus power bats, raising the issue of whether “low strikeout” strategies can carry San Diego past NL West rivals, impact of new signings, veteran leadership, rookie manager Craig Stammen being chosen over Albert Pujols, and more in the mailbag segment! Go Padres.

00:00 — Intro

1:44 — Spring Training Kickoff

09:21— Monday Mailbag & Listener Questions

21:14 — Padres Concerns & Outlook

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Indeed
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FanDuel
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San Diego Padres’ 2026 outlook surprises as Fangraphs’ ZiPS projections spotlight Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill as potential all-star anchors. Can Tatis return to MVP-level offense, and is Merrill poised for a breakout season in the outfield? Javier Reyes breaks down why ZiPS loves Luis Campusano’s upside, Xander Bogaerts’ bounce-back potential, and Mason Miller’s dominance out of the bullpen.

But it's not all fun and games, with warnings of regression for Randy Vázquez, Ramón Laureano, and Gavin Sheets. Can newcomers Walker Buehler and Griffin Canning stabilize the rotation? Will the Padres’ win projections keep underrating the success of the last couple seasons? All of that and more! Go Padres.

00:00 — Intro & Padres ZIPS Projections Overview

10:27 — Surprising Player Favorites

22:08 — Potential Regression Scares

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Indeed
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FanDuel
If you’re a new customer, bet just $5 and get $200 in Bonus Bets if you win. Make it count — because after the Super Bowl, the season is over. Last call for football on FanDuel, an Official Sportsbook Partner of Super Bowl Sixty.

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San Diego Padres face a pivotal crossroads: can Craig Stamman’s rookie managerial leadership and AJ Preller’s bold strategies deliver playoff results in 2026, or is regression inevitable? With Nick Pivetta and Randy Vázquez’s breakout pitching ripe for statistical fall-off, and lingering questions around power hitters like Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado, there are many reasons to bet AGAINST the Padres this season.

Javier Reyes breaks down the possible reasons for the Padres being a bust in 2026, including depth concerns, catching uncertainty with Freddy Fermín and Luis Campusano, trade deadline ammunition, division rivals improving considerably, and more!

00:00 — Intro

2:12 — Padres 2026 Downside Case

08:20 — Roster Flexibility & Depth Concerns

18:45 — Pitching Regression & Division Challenges

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Indeed
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FanDuel
If you’re a new customer, bet just $5 and get $200 in Bonus Bets if you win. Make it count — because after the Super Bowl, the season is over. Last call for football on FanDuel, an Official Sportsbook Partner of Super Bowl Sixty.

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San Diego Padres gear up for an explosive 2026 season as roster upgrades and strategic moves set the stage for a new era. Are major league critics overlooking the Padres’ potential? Javier Reyes spotlights all the reasons why the Padres will be great, including Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill as possible MVP-caliber talents, Ramon Laureano’s big bat being added to the mix, and the Padres cracked "four horsemen" bullpen of Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon, Jeremiah Estrada, and David Morgan.

Other parts of the conversation breach into the Padress solutions to last year’s glaring positional weaknesses at catcher, left field, and DH, plus the impact of moving on from Luis Arraez in the lineup. Go Padres.

00:00 — Padres' 2026 Optimism

02:55 — Roster Upgrades & Deficiencies Fixed?

10:24 — Bullpen Strength & Outfield Potential

21:24 — Starting Pitching & Preller Factor

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Indeed
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FanDuel
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