The San Diego Padres welcome the Minnesota Twins to Petco Park on Saturday, August 22, 2026, for a 8:40 PM ET first pitch. Casey Mize takes the ball for San Diego against Minnesota's Dean Kremer in what figures to be a pitching-forward affair under the lights in the Gaslamp. With the Padres running out their core lineup — Fernando Tatis Jr. leading off, Manny Machado hitting third, and Jackson Merrill in center — San Diego has the offensive firepower to make this a comfortable night at home if Mize can give them length.

Starting Pitchers: Casey Mize vs. Dean Kremer

Casey Mize draws the Saturday night assignment for the Padres, and this is a start worth watching closely. Mize has shown the ability to work through a lineup with multiple pitch shapes, and the Petco Park environment — with its spacious outfield and historically favorable conditions for pitchers — suits his profile. The Padres will need him to eat innings and keep the Twins' lineup in check.

On the other side, Dean Kremer gets the call for Minnesota. Kremer is a strike-thrower capable of keeping the Padres' potent lineup off balance if his secondary stuff is working. The matchup sets up as a battle of attrition — whichever offense can grind out quality at-bats against a pitcher working to control the zone will have the advantage.

San Diego Padres Lineup

• 1. Fernando Tatis Jr. — RF
• 2. Jake Cronenworth — 2B
• 3. Manny Machado — 3B
• 4. Ty France — 1B
• 5. Jackson Merrill — CF
• 6. Luis Rengifo — LF
• 7. Gavin Sheets — DH
• 8. Xander Bogaerts — SS
• 9. Freddy Fermin — C

Minnesota Twins Lineup

• 1. Luke Keaschall — RF
• 2. Byron Buxton — CF
• 3. Josh Bell — DH
• 4. Ryan Jeffers — C
• 5. Kody Clemens — 2B
• 6. Royce Lewis — 1B
• 7. Trevor Larnach — LF
• 8. Brooks Lee — 3B
• 9. Kaelen Culpepper — SS

Keys to Watch for the Padres

• Tatis Jr. setting the tone: Batting leadoff, Tatis has the ability to change the energy of a game from the first at-bat. If he gets on base and puts pressure on Kremer early, it opens the lineup up for Machado and France in run-scoring situations.
• Mize limiting the Twins' top of the order: Byron Buxton in the two-hole is a genuine threat. Mize needs to be sharp against Buxton and Josh Bell in the middle of Minnesota's lineup — those two can do real damage if left in hitter's counts.
• Bogaerts and Fermin at the bottom: The eight-nine spots with Xander Bogaerts and Freddy Fermin can function as a secondary table-setter combination. If those two are on base when Tatis comes up again, San Diego's offense gets much more dangerous in a hurry.
• Bullpen management: If Mize gets into trouble in the fifth or sixth inning, the Padres' bullpen decisions will be critical. Minnesota doesn't have an overwhelming lineup, but Buxton and Bell are capable of punishing mistakes from relievers working without their best stuff.

Prediction

This feels like a game the Padres control from the jump. Petco Park at night with a full lineup including Tatis, Machado, and Merrill is a tough environment for a visiting pitching staff. Kremer will need to be precise to keep San Diego off the board, and the Padres lineup has enough depth to find damage even if the top of the order doesn't immediately break through. Mize gets through five-plus innings of solid work, the bullpen closes it out, and the Padres take this one at home. Padres 4, Twins 2.