Waldron (1-5) was tagged with the loss against the Dodgers on Saturday, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks over 5.1 innings while striking out six.

EDGE Analysis

Waldron coughed up a solo home run to Freddie Freeman in the top of the first and was later charged with another run in the sixth after having to be relieved by Adrian Morejon with one out in the frame. The right-handed Waldron threw only 11 of 20 first pitches for strikes in the contest en route to taking his third consecutive loss. Waldron has now allowed a home run in each of his last five starts, going 1-4 over that stretch with a 19:9 K:BB.

Waldron (1-4) took the loss Sunday against the Diamondbacks, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits and three walks while striking out two over three innings.

EDGE Analysis

Waldron suffered his worst outing of the season, allowing a career-high eight runs while also posting the shortest outing since he debuted last year. The Diamondbacks put up a four-spot in the first, highlighted by a two-run blast from Ketel Marte. They tacked on another two in the second and then chased him out of the fourth with back-to-back doubles to open the inning. Despite the shaky results, Waldron may retain a rotation spot after Joe Musgrove was put on the 15-day injured list Sunday with elbow inflammation. Waldron now owns a 5.82 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 29:13 K:BB in 34 innings and is expected to take the mound versus the Dodgers over the weekend.

Waldron (1-3) was tagged with the loss against Cincinnati on Monday, allowing four runs on six hits and no walks while striking out four batters over six innings.

EDGE Analysis

Waldron fell behind early on an Elly De La Cruz first-inning solo homer, and he gave up four runs across his first three frames. To his credit, the knuckleballer yielded just one hit and zero runs over his final three innings, but San Diego's offense was mostly held in check. Waldron has completed six frames in each of his past two appearances, and he's given up one run in half of his six starts on the season. However, his record sits at 1-3, and he's pitched to a mediocre 4.35 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 27:10 K:BB over 31 frames overall.

Waldron (1-2) earned the win against Colorado on Wednesday, allowing one run on four hits and three walks while striking out five batters over six innings.

EDGE Analysis

Waldron gave up a season-high five runs against Toronto in his last start, but he bounced back nicely Wednesday to earn his first win of the season. The knuckleballer didn't seem to have any trouble with his primary pitch in the Colorado altitude, as the Rockies managed a modest four hits against him. Waldron's quality start was also his first of the campaign, and he now holds a respectable 3.96 ERA through 25 innings.

Waldron (0-2) took the loss Friday, allowing five runs on seven hits and one walk over 4.2 innings against Toronto. He struck out two.

EDGE Analysis

After allowing a first inning solo homer to Justin Turner, Waldron ran into a world of trouble in the second inning. The Blue Jays kept putting the ball in play, collecting five hits and four runs off the Padres starter in the inning. Waldron has pitched to the tune of a 4.74 ERA and 1.53 WHIP over his first 19 innings. His next start is scheduled to be on the road against Colorado.

Waldron allowed one run on three hits and four walks while striking out four batters over five innings in a no-decision against the Dodgers on Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

Waldron didn't have great control, as he threw 40 balls among his 93 pitches and issued a season-high four walks. However, he kept Los Angeles mostly at bay, surrendering just one run. The knuckleballer allowed four runs over four innings against St. Louis in his first start of the campaign but has looked much better since, giving up just two runs (one earned) over 10.1 frames across his past two starts.

Waldron did not factor in the decision Sunday after yielding one unearned run on three hits and a walk over 5.1 innings. He struck out five during the loss to San Francisco.

EDGE Analysis

After a brutal season debut, Waldron looked much better Sunday. He rolled through five shutout frames before the Giants pushed home an unearned run in the sixth. Despite the strong performance, Waldron forced just four swinging strikes on 85 pitches, with only two coming via the knuckleball. He's projected for a tough road matchup against the Dodgers next.

Waldron (0-1) took the loss against St. Louis on Monday, allowing four runs on nine hits and one walk with seven strikeouts over four innings.

EDGE Analysis

Waldron impressed in Cactus League play to win the role of fifth starter to open the campaign, but he was hit hard in his regular-season debut. Three of the Cardinals' nine hits against him went for extra bases, including Wilson Contreras' two-run homer in the first inning. Waldron did strike out seven batters in four frames, but punchouts aren't normally a big part of the knuckleballer's skill set -- he struck out less than a batter per inning at the Triple-A level across 2022 and 2023. Waldron doesn't have the longest of leashes, so he'll likely need to pitch better moving forward to hang on to a big-league rotation spot.

Waldron has won the fifth spot in the Padres' rotation, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The knuckleballer won the job after posting a 1.35 ERA and 11:0 K:BB over 13.1 Cactus League innings. Waldron was solid during a look-see with the big club last season in posting a 4.35 ERA over 41.1 innings, although that came after a 7.31 ERA at Triple-A El Paso. His leash will be short, with Jhony Brito and Randy Vasquez looming as alternatives.

Waldron appears to have an inside track for a spot in the Padres' Opening Day rotation, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

While reaching the big leagues for the first time last season as a 26-year-old, Waldron made six starts for San Diego and posted so-so ratios (4.35 ERA, 4.42 xERA, 1.23 WHIP, 11.0 K-BB%) over his 41.1 total innings with the big club. The Padres lost Blake Snell, Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha to free agency this winter, but after bringing in three rotation candidates in Michael King, Randy Vasquez and Jhony Brito from the Yankees in the deal that sent outfielder Juan Soto to The Bronx, Waldron still appeared to enter spring training on the outside looking in for a starting role. However, Waldron seems to have solidified his case for a rotation spot with an outstanding showing thus far in Cactus League play, as he's struck out 12 over 15.1 innings while allowing just two earned runs on 13 hits and no walks. While it may be enough for Waldron to break camp with the club, the right-hander still looks to be more of a name to keep an eye on in NL-only leagues rather than mixed leagues at this juncture, given his lack of pedigree and poor numbers at Triple-A El Paso in 2023 (7.31 ERA, 1.61 WHIP in 92.1 innings).