If it felt jarring to see a Nick Pivetta start without Elias Díaz squatting behind the plate, the Padres just supplied the why. San Diego confirmed Díaz is dealing with soreness in his left oblique and won’t be on the Wild Card Series roster — an abrupt twist given he’s been Pivetta’s personal catcher all year.
The timeline snapped into focus Saturday night at Petco Park. After fouling a ball straight back in the bottom of the fourth, Díaz grimaced, reached for his left side, and was checked by the training staff. Moments later, he exited in favor of Fermin as San Diego finished off a 5–1 win over the Diamondbacks.