Matt Waldron

Matt Waldron

28-Year-Old PitcherSP
San Diego Padres AAA
2025 Fantasy Outlook
After tossing 41.1 innings in his first major-league cup of coffee in 2023, Waldron got a much longer look in 2024 with 146.2 frames covering 27 appearances (26 starts). The right-hander struggled out the gate but then turned things around with a 1.95 ERA over nine outings from mid-May to late June. That span turned out to be a mirage, however, as Waldron struggled in the latter part of summer to the point that he spent most of September in the minors. Waldron went to his knuckleball 38.2% of the time last season, and his metrics mostly fits what you'd expect from a pitcher who specializes in that offering, including a low strikeout rate (21.3%) and a hard-hit rate that ranked in 79th percentile leaguewide. He does issue fewer free passes (6.5% career walk rate) than most knuckleballers, which could be critical in helping him maintain a role in the majors, but it's hard to envision Waldron as more than a back-end starter with an unappealing fantasy profile. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
Rest of Season
From Preseason
#406
ADP
Signed a one-year contract with the Padres in March of 2025.
Sent down after spot start
PSan Diego Padres  AAA
July 2, 2025
The Padres optioned Waldron to Triple-A El Paso on Wednesday.
Analysis
Waldron will head back to the minors after he permitted four runs over 4.2 innings Monday while taking a loss in a spot start versus the Phillies. San Diego called up right-hander Eduarniel Nunez to replace Waldron on the 26-man active roster.
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Pitching Stats
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2025 MLB Game Log
2025
2024
2023
2025 MLB Game Log
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2024 MLB Game Log
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2023 MLB Game Log
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Pitching Appearances Breakdown
Average Pitch Count
104
Last 10 Games
104
Last 5 Games
104
How many pitches does Matt Waldron generally throw?
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
What part of the game does Matt Waldron generally pitch?
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
% Games Reaching Innings Threshold
% Games By Number of Innings Pitched
Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2023
 
 
-2%
BAA vs RHP
2025
 
 
-78%
BAA vs LHP
2024
 
 
-3%
BAA vs RHP
2023
 
 
-16%
BAA vs RHP
BAA Batters K BB H 2B 3B HR
Since 2023vs Left .257 421 81 39 96 26 1 14
Since 2023vs Right .251 402 86 19 94 13 3 17
2025vs Left .111 13 2 4 1 0 0 0
2025vs Right .500 12 1 2 5 0 0 1
2024vs Left .260 323 67 26 75 21 1 11
2024vs Right .251 302 66 14 70 11 1 10
2023vs Left .267 85 12 9 20 5 0 3
2023vs Right .224 88 19 3 19 2 2 6
Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2023
 
 
-14%
ERA on Road
2025
 
 
-100%
ERA at Home
2024
 
 
-22%
ERA on Road
2023
 
 
-2%
ERA at Home
ERA WHIP IP W L SV K/9 BB/9 HR/9
Since 2023Home 5.24 1.24 91.0 3 8 0 8.4 2.2 1.6
Since 2023Away 4.51 1.33 101.2 5 7 0 7.3 3.2 1.3
2025Home 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2025Away 7.71 2.57 4.2 0 1 0 5.8 11.6 1.9
2024Home 5.59 1.26 66.0 3 6 0 8.5 2.0 1.4
2024Away 4.35 1.26 80.2 4 5 0 7.9 2.8 1.2
2023Home 4.32 1.20 25.0 0 2 0 8.3 2.5 2.2
2023Away 4.41 1.29 16.1 1 1 0 4.4 2.8 1.7
Minor League Left/Right Pitching Splits (AAA)
Since 2023
 
 
-9%
BAA vs RHP
2025
 
 
-28%
BAA vs RHP
2024
 
 
-24%
BAA vs RHP
2023
 
 
-1%
BAA vs LHP
BAA Batters K BB H 2B 3B HR
Since 2023vs Left .317 248 44 15 72 13 6 10
Since 2023vs Right .289 348 94 25 91 29 1 12
2025vs Left .356 49 9 3 16 3 1 0
2025vs Right .256 47 13 4 11 4 0 1
2024vs Left .280 27 6 0 7 0 1 0
2024vs Right .212 57 11 3 11 1 1 3
2023vs Left .312 172 29 12 49 10 4 10
2023vs Right .314 244 70 18 69 24 0 8
Stat Review
How does Matt Waldron compare to other starting pitchers?
This section compares his stats with all starting pitcher seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 120 innings)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.

* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 120 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
  • K/BB
    Strikeout to walk ratio.
  • K/9
    Average strikeouts per nine innings.
  • BB/9
    Average walks per nine innings.
  • HR/9
    Average home runs allowed per nine innings.
  • Fastball
    Average fastball velocity.
  • ERA
    Earned run average. The average earned runs allowed per nine innings.
  • WHIP
    Walks plus hits per inning pitched.
  • BABIP
    Batting average on balls in play. Measures how many balls in play against a pitcher go for hits.
  • GB/FB
    Groundball to flyball ratio. The higher the number, the more likely a pitcher is to induce groundballs.
  • Left On Base
    The percentage of base runners that a pitcher strands on base over the course of a season.
  • Exit Velocity
    The speed of the baseball as it comes off the bat, immediately after a batter makes contact.
  • Barrels/BBE
    The percentage of batted ball events resulting in a Barrel. A Barrel is a batted ball with similar exit velocity and launch angle to past ones that led to a minimum .500 batting average and 1.500 slugging percentage.
  • Spin Rate
    Spin Rate is the rate of spin on a baseball after it is released. It is measured in revolutions per minute (rpm).
  • Balls Hit 95+ MPH
    The percentage of batted balls hit that met or exceeded the 95 MPH threshold.
  • Swinging Strike
    The percentage of pitches that result in a swing and a miss.
K/BB
0.50
 
K/9
5.8
 
BB/9
11.6
 
HR/9
1.9
 
Fastball
90.0 mph
 
ERA
7.71
 
WHIP
2.57
 
BABIP
.330
 
GB/FB
2.00
 
Left On Base
75.5%
 
Exit Velocity
78.4 mph
 
Barrels/BBE
5.7%
 
Spin Rate
843 rpm
 
Balls Hit 95+ MPH
28.6%
 
Swinging Strike
4.8%
 
Advanced Pitching Stats
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Defensive Stats
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Stats Vs Today's Lineup
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Matt Waldron See More
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Matt Waldron See More
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Waldron, who is a rare knuckleballer, had a solid showing in his first taste of the majors last season with a 4.35 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 31:12 K:BB across 41.1 innings. The Juan Soto trade significantly boosted San Diego's rotation depth with the additions of Michael King, Randy Vasquez and Jhony Brito, but the group's inexperience, especially Vasquez and Brito, mean the Opening Day rotation is hardly settled. Waldron struggled at Triple-A in 2023 with a 7.31 ERA, and he'll likely need more consistency in 2024 if he's to win and maintain a starting spot.
More Fantasy News
Headed to Triple-A
PSan Diego Padres  AAA
July 1, 2025
The Padres are expected to option Waldron to Triple-A El Paso on Wednesday, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Analysis
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Can't find zone in loss
PSan Diego Padres  AAA
June 30, 2025
Waldron (0-1) suffered the loss in Monday's contest at Philadelphia, conceding four runs on six hits and six walks over 4.2 innings with three strikeouts.
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Recalled to start Monday's game
PSan Diego Padres  AAA
June 30, 2025
The Padres recalled Waldron from Triple-A El Paso on Monday.
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Entering rotation Monday
PSan Diego Padres  AAA
June 29, 2025
The Padres will call up Waldron from Triple-A El Paso to start Monday's game in Philadelphia, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
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Activated, optioned to Triple-A
PSan Diego Padres  AAA
June 1, 2025
The Padres activated Waldron (oblique) from the 60-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A El Paso on Sunday, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Possibility to start this weekend?
PSan Diego Padres  AAA
July 5, 2023
The Padres have yet to announce a starting pitcher for Sunday's game against the Mets, and Waldron could get the nod if the club decides to give Joe Musgrove some extra rest heading into the All-Star break, according to Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Analysis
Waldron is already up with the big-league club after being called up from Triple-A El Paso on Tuesday. The 26-year-old made his MLB debut in late June and gave up two runs across 4.2 innings, though he's struggled at Triple-A this season with a 7.02 ERA and 75:24 K:BB across 66.2 innings. The right-hander's minor-league numbers make him a risky streaming option should Musgrove have his turn skipped.
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