Jason Adam, Jeremiah Estrada exchange places; Adam returns, Estrada on IL
Matt Waldron has another scoreless outing
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 10: Jason Adam #40 of the San Diego Padres pitches against the Colorado Rockies during the eighth inning at Petco Park on April 10, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images Right-handed bullpen stalwart Jason Adam, who has been recovering from quad tendon surgery since last September, returned to the San Diego Padres in a dramatic fashion during the Friday night game against the Colorado Rockies. Less than an hour before first pitch of the game where the Padres debuted their new City Connect uniforms and tried to maintain their momentum from the walk-off win on Thursday, Adam was reinstated from the IL and struggling Jeremiah Estrada was placed on the 15-day IL with elbow tendinitis.
Adam seemed ready to be with the team coming out of spring camp but the Padres choose to be extra cautious with the valuable eighth inning specialist from 2025. Adam finished last season with a 1. 93 ERA in 65.
1 innings pitched before injuring his left leg while on the mound. He has thrown five innings over four games with Triple-A El Paso, including back-to-back games and multiple innings, in order to ready himself for the rigors of an MLB season. In his postgame presser after the Padres staged another dramatic walk off win on Friday night, Padres manager Craig Stammen stated the preference for a “soft landing” for Adam in his return to a major league mound.
That wasn’t possible when reliever Adrian Morejon blew a two-run lead in the eighth inning and Adam was called on to get the last out to preserve a tie. Adam threw five pitches and got a groundout to end the top of the inning. There has been much debate as to who would be demoted from the Padres bullpen in order to make room for Adam upon his return.