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Brewers and Padres Finalized NLDS Rosters

Both teams set their 26-man squads for the National League Division Series as rosters were officially released.

Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in Baseball

Brewers and Padres Finalized NLDS Rosters

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The Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres have confirmed their 26-man rosters for the National League Division Series. San Diego added pitcher Randy Vasquez to replace Walker Buehler, who was placed on the paternity list.

Why it matters

The roster adjustments address critical availability issues for both clubs heading into the playoffs. The Brewers bolstered their lineup with returning veterans while the Padres were forced to modify their pitching staff due to personal leave.

Each team has locked in a 26-man roster for the NLDS postseason. The paternity list rules permit players to be absent for between one and three days.

The players

Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team competing in the National League Central division.

San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball franchise based in Southern California.

Walker Buehler

Walker Buehler is a professional pitcher currently unavailable due to paternity leave.

Joey Ortiz

Joey Ortiz is an active player for the Brewers who recently recovered from a knee injury.

Andrew Vaughn

Andrew Vaughn is a player who was activated by the Brewers after recovering from an injury.

The details

For the Brewers, Joey Ortiz returns after resting a right knee bruise, while Andrew Vaughn joins the active roster following his stint on the 10-day injured list. The Padres utilized the same roster that they relied on for their previous Wild Card Series performance.

Timeline

  1. September 19 marked the last game played by Andrew Vaughn before his illness.

  2. October 2 was the date Andrew Vaughn was officially activated from the 10-day IL.

  3. October 3 is the scheduled date for NLDS Game 1 in Milwaukee.

  4. October 4 is the scheduled date for NLDS Game 2.

  5. October 6 is the scheduled date for NLDS Game 3 in San Diego.

Season Trajectory

These roster decisions directly impact the competitive balance for the remaining postseason field. The ability to integrate returning players while managing temporary absences could prove decisive in a short, high-stakes series.

The activation of Andrew Vaughn adds depth to the Brewers lineup, while the rotation of pitchers for the Padres will hinge on performance metrics like Michael King's workload. These roster moves dictate the primary options available to managers for high-leverage situations.

The takeaway

Team depth is critical during the compressed nature of the postseason where one injury or personal leave can trigger immediate roster turnover. Managing these active rosters requires balancing long-term health with immediate tactical needs for each game.

What happens next

Walker Buehler may return to the Padres roster for Game 3 on Tuesday if his paternity leave concludes. Michael King is expected to start for the Padres in Game 2 on October 4.

Further reading

For more background on the playoff field, visit our Baseball section.

Live Poll

Does your local team have the roster depth needed to win their current playoff series?