Lucas Giolito hits IL with elbow inflammation

Giolito allowed seven hits, walked two and struck out two. His fastball averaged 90.2 mph today, which is three mph down from where he was last year in Boston. That he has even a 5.16 ERA at this point is kind of impressive, what with his horrible 18/23 K/BB through 29 2/3 innings. It’s probably time for the Padres to try someone different in his spot. Maybe he’ll agree to go on the IL and work on building arm strength.

Wandy Peralta draws the starting assignment as San Diego’s opener. It’ll be Giolito’s second consecutive bulk relief outing since mid-June. The 31-year-old has compiled a serviceable 4.56 ERA across 25 2/3 innings during his Padres debut. He’s tough to trust as a fantasy option since he’s struggled to work deep into outings and has posted a 16/21 K/BB ratio so far.

Giolito turned in a respectable performance after opener Wandy Peralta tossed a scoreless opening frame, holding St. Louis to just three runs into the late stages of the contest. Unfortunately, he was outdueled by his Cardinals counterpart Dustin May, who tossed a complete-game shutout. He finished with two strikeouts and issued three walks. He’s struggled to work deep into starts and has had difficulty throwing strikes during his Padres debut, but he holds a respectable 4.56 ERA across 25 2/3 innings. He’ll get the ball in a road matchup against the Rangers on Sunday to close out a two-start week.

Giolito tossed a scoreless first inning, then gave up a run on a walk and a hit in the second. An error by Giolito with the bases loaded in the third would bring a second run in. He’d strand one more runner in a scoreless fourth, ending his day at 85 pitches with five walks and three strikeouts. Through five outings, the 31-year-old right-hander carries a 4.35 ERA, 1.74 WHIP, and a 14/18 K/BB ratio across 20 2/3 innings. He’ll take on the Cardinals in St. Louis on Monday.

It could have been worse! Giolito reined in his control issues a bit, and he actually managed whiffs on 14 of 33 swings, including seven of eight swings on his slider, while allowing just four hard-hit balls. He could not quite hit five-and-dive as he was pulled with nobody out in the fifth after allowing an Adolis García home run and Justin Crawford double. Yuki Matsui bravely bailed out the Crawford run from the earned column with an errant pickoff throw. This was broadly encouraging but we’re not quite ready to recommend him against the Reds next week.

You can’t be surprised about the control at this point -- Giolito has walked 12 in 12 2/3 innings over his first three starts in the big leagues this year. Considering the seven hard-hit balls, Giolito was lucky to escape this game with only four earned runs allowed. He did whiff 28 percent of batters that actually swung, but when you prove that wild, major leaguers can just wait for something juicy. We can’t recommend using him against the Phillies next week.

For those who like to watch pitchers struggle to throw strikes, that’s weird, but this one was for you. The two teams combined to walk 14 batters, and Giolito was responsible for six of those. The right-hander was still effective; limiting the A’s to just four singles and initiating three double plays. Giolito has not had great command in his first two outings, but he’s been effective for the most part. He’ll face his former club in the Nationals next weekend.

Giolito had just two batters reach on a hit and a HBP through five. The sixth, though, started with three straight walks, and all three runners came around to score after he departed a 7-0 game. Things might have turned out differently if the Padres had challenged the 3-1 pitch to Cole Emerson that started the rally. It would have been overturned and led to a full count offering. Before the sixth, Giolito was very successful despite averaging just 90.4 mph with his fastball in his 2026 debut. Prior to his elbow issue, he averaged 93.3 mph for the Red Sox last year. Until he picks up the velocity some, he shouldn’t be considered in mixed leagues. He’ll face the A’s next time out.

The 31-year-old righty will make his Padres’ debut on Sunday against the Mariners. Over four minor league rehab starts, Giolito posted a 4.76 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and a 15/6 K/BB ratio across 17 innings of work. He could wind up carving out some fantasy value in deeper mixed leagues. Alek Jacob was optioned to Triple-A El Paso in a corresponding move.

The 31-year-old right-hander will take the rotation spot vacated by the injured Matt Waldron. Giolito has made four minor league rehab starts, registering a 4.76 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and a 15/6 K/BB ratio over 17 innings. Fantasy managers may want to take a wait-and-see approach before trying to get Giolito into lineups.