The Padres are reinstating right-hander Walker Buehler from the paternity list, the club announced on Monday. Buehler will replace right-hander Randy Vásquez on the 26-man active roster for the National League Division Series.
Buehler, 32, was a candidate to start Game 1 of the NLDS in Milwaukee before being placed on the paternity list. The Padres will hand the ball to right-hander Nick Pivetta for Game 3 on Tuesday night (9:30 p.m. ET, FS1).
If they can stave off elimination, Buehler could be in line to draw the nod for Game 4 on Wednesday. But in an all-hands-on-deck situation for Game 3, Stammen noted that Buehler would be available to pitch in relief. Naturally, there won't be any Game 4 plans until there's a Game 4 to plan for.
The Padres signed Buehler to a Minor League contract in February, and the veteran right-hander ended up having a solid season. He pitched to a 4.63 ERA in 32 regular-season starts for a rotation that lacked durable starting pitchers for much of the year. Buehler was at his best after the All-Star break, posting a 3.62 ERA in a 13-start span.
Buehler also has plenty of postseason pedigree from his time with the Dodgers. He owns a 3.04 postseason ERA across 94 2/3 innings in 19 appearances. Most famously, he tossed a 1-2-3 ninth inning to close out the decisive Game 5 of the 2024 World Series at Yankee Stadium, securing L.A. a championship.
Vásquez did not appear in either of Games 1 or 2 in Milwaukee.