The Arizona Diamondbacks will launch a demanding seven-game swing through California with a four-game series in San Diego, opening Monday night against the Padres. The two National League West rivals enter the series with identical 44-45 records, setting up a matchup that could have immediate implications for both clubs as they push through the summer schedule. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. Pacific Time (the same in Arizona), with Brandon Pfaadt taking the mound for Arizona opposite Walker Buehler for San Diego.
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Shows: Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher on the field at Petco Park during a June 26 game — shown here ahead of the D-backs’ road series opener in San Diego.
Though both teams sit at identical records, the matchup in San Diego presents challenges for the Diamondbacks. The Padres have shown the ability to get outs with their staff, and Arizona’s offense has struggled to produce at times, a combination that makes the Petco Park series a difficult assignment regardless of how either club has fared lately. The opening game will test whether Arizona’s rotation and lineup can find traction away from home as the road trip gets underway.
Fans looking to watch have several broadcast options available. Locally, subscribers to each club’s in-market streaming packages — D-backs.TV for Arizona viewers and Padres.TV for those inside the San Diego market — will be able to stream the game without an additional national blackout. Out-of-market viewers who subscribe to MLB.TV’s out-of-market package will also have access. For audiences who do not use those team or MLB.TV streaming services, the game is being carried nationally on FS1; viewers can access the telecast on the FS1 cable channel or through the FS1 app as part of many live TV streaming bundles.
Radio listeners will likewise have options. Arizona-area fans can tune in on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, with Spanish-language broadcasts available on La Campesina at 101.9 FM and 860 AM. Listeners in the San Diego market can hear the game on KWFN 97.3 and XEMO 860. Those outlets will carry the live play-by-play and local commentary alongside the television coverage.
On the mound for Arizona, Brandon Pfaadt will make his start looking to build on a productive return to the major league rotation. In his most recent outing — his first back in the rotation — Pfaadt worked 5.1 innings and allowed a single run, yielding a solo home run to the final batter he faced. That start featured a fair share of soft contact from opposing hitters and represented a positive step as he reestablished himself in the rotation. Matchup history between Pfaadt and the Padres has been a mixed bag: across nine appearances against San Diego, he has a 4.64 earned-run average, and one of those outings included a difficult relief appearance on April 25 in Mexico City when he was charged with four runs over three innings.
Shows: San Diego Padres pitcher delivering a pitch at Petco Park, representing the home rotation Arizona will face in the Game 1 matchup.
Opposing Pfaadt will be Walker Buehler, a veteran presence in the Padres’ rotation whose season numbers have been inconsistent. Buehler enters the matchup with a 4.61 ERA on the year, but his track record against Arizona paints a much different picture. Dating back to 2018, Buehler has been dominant when facing the Diamondbacks, posting a 1.98 ERA and compiling a 7-0 record in 13 appearances (12 of them starts). That familiarity and sustained success against Arizona underscores the particular challenge he presents in Game 1.
With pitching matchups front and center, the series opener will be watched closely for signs of which team can swing momentum. For Arizona, an effective outing from Pfaadt would be an important foundation as the club navigates the early portion of a long road trip; for San Diego, another strong start from Buehler would continue his history of success against this opponent. Viewers and radio listeners have multiple avenues to follow the game live, and with identical records entering the series, the first of four in San Diego promises meaningful baseball over the coming days.
Ahead of the opener, Padres beat writer Jeff Sanders reported that Xander Bogaerts is getting a day off during the stretch of 17 games before the All-Star break. Sung-Mun Song, hitting .364/.462/.591 over his last 12 games with improved comfort in the field, starts at shortstop and bats eighth in the Padres lineup against Pfaadt.
The game is scheduled for Monday, July 6, 2026, at Petco Park with first pitch at 6:40 p.m. Pacific Time.
As of Monday morning (July 6, 2026), betting markets had San Diego installed as a small favorite (roughly -115 on the moneyline) with the game total sitting around 8.5 runs.
Game-day conditions at Petco Park were mild: observed temperatures ranged from about 66°F to a high near 75°F, with generally clear skies during the evening.
Entering the matchup, Walker Buehler was listed 5-4 on the season with a 4.61 ERA and roughly 76 strikeouts in about 82 2/3 innings, while Brandon Pfaadt entered the start 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA through roughly 43 innings.