Buehler begins NLDS on paternity leave; Vásquez joins Padres roster

Walker Buehler will open the Padres' Division Series on the postseason paternity list, with Randy Vásquez taking his roster spot during the absence. MLB approved the move Saturday before San Diego's Game 1 against Milwaukee.

MLB Communications announced the temporary replacement:

Buehler may be away for one to three days. When he returns, he will replace Vásquez on the NLDS roster, according to the Padres' official announcement. The club had initially named the same 26 players who swept the Wild Card Series, then made the paternity substitution shortly afterward.

The pitching plan for the first two games is set. Robbie Ray starts Saturday's opener at American Family Field, and Michael King is scheduled for Game 2 on Sunday. MLB.com's AJ Cassavell reports that Buehler had been a candidate for the opener before Ray received the assignment; the roster move now leaves Vásquez available in the early games.

San Diego continues to carry 11 pitchers and 15 position players. Joe Musgrove remains on the roster after returning from Tommy John surgery to throw a scoreless ninth inning in the Wild Card opener, the Associated Press reports. The Padres used all 15 hitters across their two-game sweep, including all three catchers, according to MLB.com.

Vásquez supplies a pitcher with a substantial regular-season workload. Field Level Media reports that he went 10–6 with a 3.90 ERA in 32 appearances, including 23 starts. Buehler went 9–6 with a 4.63 ERA across 32 starts and did not pitch in the Wild Card round.

Saturday's scheduled first pitch is 8:30 p.m. Eastern on FS1, FOX Deportes and FOX One. The Padres' roster decision preserves the group that advanced while providing a temporary pitching replacement during Buehler's family leave. His return date and later-series assignment remain to be announced.