San Diego Padres pitcher Walker Buehler is temporarily away from the team during the National League Division Series because he was placed on MLB’s Postseason Paternity List.
Buehler remained in San Diego while the Padres traveled to Milwaukee for the start of their NLDS against the Brewers so he could be with his wife, McKenzie, for the birth of their second child. He is permitted to miss between one and three days and can return to San Diego’s active roster during the series. [MLB] [Reuters]
That means Buehler has not been dropped for the entire NLDS, is not injured and was not simply left off the roster because of his performance. The absence is temporary, and Padres manager Craig Stammen has indicated that Buehler is expected to have a role later in the series. [MLB]
Why Is Walker Buehler Away From The Padres?
Buehler’s wife, McKenzie, was expecting to give birth to the couple’s second child during the opening weekend of the NLDS.
Rather than have Buehler travel to Milwaukee while the birth could occur at any moment, the Padres kept him in San Diego and placed him on the postseason paternity list.
Stammen explained that the club did not want Buehler faced with the possibility of having to pitch on the same day his child was born and potentially miss the birth. [Reuters]
Buehler and his wife already have a daughter, Finley, who was born in January 2024. [Reuters]
Is Walker Buehler Out For The Entire NLDS?
No.
This is an important distinction.
MLB approved Buehler’s placement on the Postseason Paternity List, which allows him to leave the team for a minimum of one day and a maximum of three days.
When Buehler returns, he can immediately rejoin San Diego’s active NLDS roster. [MLB]
He therefore could still pitch against Milwaukee if the series lasts long enough.
When Can Walker Buehler Return?
The earliest Buehler could pitch is Game 3 on Tuesday in San Diego.
Game 1 was played Saturday in Milwaukee, followed by Game 2 on Sunday. Monday is an off day before the series shifts to Petco Park for Game 3. [Reuters]
That does not necessarily mean Buehler will start Game 3.
Before the series, San Diego was positioned to use Nick Pivetta in Game 3, which could make Game 4 a more logical opportunity for Buehler. Stammen said before the series that no final decision had been made but that Buehler would likely play an important role at some point. [MLB]
Who Replaced Walker Buehler On The NLDS Roster?
Right-hander Randy Vásquez was added to San Diego’s active roster while Buehler is on paternity leave.
The arrangement is temporary.
MLB specifically announced that once Buehler returns, he will replace Vásquez on the Padres’ active NLDS roster. [MLB]
Vásquez went 10-6 with a 3.90 ERA in 32 appearances, including 23 starts, during the 2026 regular season, giving San Diego an experienced pitcher to cover Buehler’s absence. [Reuters]
Why Didn’t Walker Buehler Start Game 1?
Under the normal rotation, Game 1 would have been Buehler’s turn to pitch.
But his family situation helped simplify San Diego’s decision to start Robbie Ray instead. [Reuters]
The Padres had several pitching options even before Buehler’s paternity-list move was announced.
Stammen ultimately selected Ray for Game 1 partly because Milwaukee had performed significantly worse against left-handed pitching during the regular season. The Brewers hit .245 against left-handers compared with .264 against right-handers, while also posting a lower slugging percentage and OPS against lefties. [MLB]
Michael King was selected for Game 2.
Was Walker Buehler Benched Because Of His Performance?
No.
Buehler’s absence from the beginning of the NLDS is officially a paternity-list move, not a disciplinary decision or a demotion based on his pitching.
His 2026 regular season was uneven. Buehler finished 9-6 with a 4.63 ERA in 32 starts during his first season with San Diego. [Reuters]
But Stammen made clear before the series that he expected Buehler’s postseason experience to matter.
“Walker will play a big role in this series at some point,” Stammen said when discussing San Diego’s pitching plans. [MLB]
Is Walker Buehler Injured?
No injury has been cited as the reason for Buehler’s absence.
He made his final regular-season start on September 26 against the Arizona Diamondbacks and was available for the postseason.
The Padres simply did not use him during their Wild Card Series sweep of the Chicago Cubs, and his NLDS absence began because of the birth of his child. [Reuters]
What Is MLB’s Postseason Paternity List?
The postseason paternity list allows a player to temporarily leave his club for the birth or adoption of a child without forcing the team to play short-handed.
For Buehler, MLB approved an absence of at least one day and no more than three days.
During that period, San Diego is allowed to carry Vásquez as a replacement. Once Buehler returns, the temporary replacement comes off the active roster. [MLB]
That is different from simply removing a player from a postseason roster because of performance or injury, which can carry restrictions affecting when the player becomes eligible again.
Why Is Buehler Important To The Padres In The Playoffs?
Buehler’s overall 2026 numbers were not dominant, but few pitchers on San Diego’s staff can match his postseason résumé.
He entered the 2026 playoffs with a 4-4 record and 3.04 ERA in 19 career postseason appearances, including 18 starts. [Reuters]
Buehler also won two World Series championships while pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
That history is one of the reasons Stammen has indicated the Padres want to find an opportunity for him during the Milwaukee series rather than simply moving forward without him.
How Did Buehler Pitch Against Milwaukee This Season?
Buehler had one of his better outings against the Brewers during the regular season.
On August 11, he held Milwaukee to one run and three hits over six innings as the Padres won 11-2. [Reuters]
That performance gives San Diego another reason to consider using Buehler if the series reaches Game 4 or if the Padres need another starter or multi-inning pitcher.
Why Did The Padres Start Robbie Ray Instead?
Ray gave San Diego a left-handed option against a Brewers lineup that produced noticeably better numbers against right-handed pitching during the regular season.
The former American League Cy Young Award winner also brought extensive starting experience, even though his results after joining San Diego at the trade deadline were inconsistent.
Ray went 3-2 with a 5.02 ERA in nine starts for the Padres after being acquired from San Francisco. [MLB]
With Buehler needing to remain in San Diego for the birth of his child, the choice became even more straightforward.
Could Walker Buehler Start Game 4?
Yes, Game 4 is a realistic possibility.
San Diego’s initial plan featured Ray in Game 1 and King in Game 2, with Pivetta positioned for Game 3.
That could leave Buehler available for Game 4 on Wednesday if the Padres decide against bringing Ray back on short rest or using a bullpen-heavy approach. MLB specifically identified Buehler as a potential Game 4 starter while noting that San Diego had not finalized those plans. [MLB]
His exact role will depend on when he returns and how the first three games affect the Padres’ pitching staff.
The Bottom Line
Walker Buehler is temporarily missing the Padres’ NLDS against the Brewers because he is on MLB’s Postseason Paternity List while he and his wife welcome their second child.
He stayed in San Diego while the Padres opened the series in Milwaukee, and Randy Vásquez temporarily replaced him on the active roster. Buehler can be away for one to three days and will replace Vásquez when he returns. [MLB]
Buehler is not injured and has not been ruled out for the entire series. The earliest he can pitch is Game 3 when the NLDS moves to San Diego, although Game 4 appears to be a possible starting assignment depending on the Padres’ rotation plans. [Reuters] [MLB]
