The 2021 San Diego Padres season was the 53rd season of the San Diego Padres franchise. The Padres played their home games at Petco Park as members of Major League Baseball's National League West. The Padres entered the 2021 season expecting to contend for the World Series, having made several major acquisitions in the offseason, and held a playoff position in the Wild Card standings from April to late August. The Padres struggled down the stretch after reaching a season high 67-49 record, going 12-34 the rest of the way. The Padres were eliminated from playoff contention on September 25, and finished the 2021 season with a very disappointing record of 79–83.

On April 9, 2021, newly acquired Joe Musgrove pitched a 3–0 no-hitter against the Texas Rangers, the first no-hitter in San Diego Padres history. The no-hitter also broke a streak of having gone 8,205 games without throwing one, a major league record.

Offseason

Acquisitions PositionPlayer2020 TeamSPJoe MusgrovePittsburgh PiratesSPYu DarvishChicago CubsCPMark MelanconAtlanta BravesSPBlake SnellTampa Bay RaysIFHa-seong KimKiwoom Heroes (KBO)CVictor CaratiniChicago CubsOFBrian O'GradyTampa Bay RaysRPNick RamirezDetroit TigersOFPatrick KivlehanToronto Blue JaysRPNabil CrismattSt. Louis CardinalsOFJohn AndreoliBoston Red SoxRPAaron NorthcraftMiami Marlins

Departures PositionPlayer2021 TeamSPZach DaviesChicago CubsSPGarrett RichardsBoston Red SoxRPTrevor RosenthalOakland Athletics1BMitch MorelandOakland AthleticsCPKirby YatesToronto Blue JaysCFrancisco MejiaTampa Bay RaysRPLuis PerdomoMilwaukee BrewersSPJoey LucchesiNew York MetsRPDavid BednarPittsburgh PiratesIFGreg GarciaDetroit TigersRPLuis PatiñoTampa Bay RaysCJason CastroHouston AstrosOFAbraham AlmonteAtlanta Braves

Regular season

Season standings

National League West

National League Wild Card

Record vs. opponents

Game log

|- style="background:#bfb;" | 1 || April 1 || Diamondbacks || 8–7 || Pagán (1–0) || Young (0–1) || Melancon (1) || 10,350 || 1–0 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 2 || April 2 || Diamondbacks || 4–2 || Pagán (2–0) || Kelly (0–1) || Melancon (2) || 10,350 || 2–0 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 3 || April 3 || Diamondbacks || 7–0 || Musgrove (1–0) || Smith (0–1) || Weathers (1) || 10,350 || 3–0 || W3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 4 || April 4 || Diamondbacks || 1–3 || Widener (1–0) || Paddack (0–1) || Devenski (1) || 10,350 || 3–1 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 5 || April 5 || Giants || 2–3 || Baragar (1–0) || Stammen (0–1) || McGee (2) || 10,350 || 3–2 || L2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 6 || April 6 || Giants || 4–1 || Kela (1–0) || Wisler (0–1) || Melancon (3) || 10,350 || 4–2 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 7 || April 7 || Giants || 2–3 || Rogers (1–0) || Hill (0–1) || — || 10,350 || 4–3 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 8 || April 9 || @ Rangers || 3–0 || Musgrove (2–0) || Arihara (0–1) || — || 27,575 || 5–3 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 9 || April 10 || @ Rangers || 7–4 || Weathers (1–0) || Benjamin (0–1) || Melancon (4) || 35,856 || 6–3 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 10 || April 11 || @ Rangers || 2–0 || Stammen (1–1) || Foltynewicz (0–2) || Melancon (5) || 26,723 || 7–3 || W3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 11 || April 12 || @ Pirates || 6–2 || Darvish (1–0) || Oviedo (0–1) || — || 4,068 || 8–3 || W4 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 12 || April 13 || @ Pirates || 4–8 || Stratton (1–0) || Crismatt (0–1) || — || 4,814 || 8–4 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 13 || April 14 || @ Pirates || 1–5 || Anderson (1–2) || Musgrove (2–1) || — || 5,228 || 8–5 || L2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 14 || April 15 || @ Pirates || 8–3 || Paddack (1–1) || Keller (1–2) || Stammen (1) || 4,023 || 9–5 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 15 || April 16 || Dodgers || 6–11 || Price (1–0) || Hill (0–2) || — || 15,250 || 9–6 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 16 || April 17 || Dodgers || 0–2 || Kershaw (3–1) || Darvish (1–1) || González (1) || 15,250 || 9–7 || L2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 17 || April 18 || Dodgers || 5–2 || Kela (2–0) || Alexander (0–1) || Melancon (6) || 15,250 || 10–7 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 18 || April 19 || Brewers || 1–3 || Woodruff (1–0) || Musgrove (2–2) || Hader (2) || 15,250 || 10–8 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 19 || April 20 || Brewers || 0–6 || Burnes (2–1) || Paddack (1–2) || — || 15,250 || 10–9 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 20 || April 21 || Brewers || 2–4 || Suter (1–1) || Kela (2–1) || Hader (3) || 15,250 || 10–10 || L3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 21 || April 22 || @ Dodgers || 3–2 || Crismatt (1–1) || Treinen (1–1) || Melancon (7) || 15,167 || 11–10 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 22 || April 23 || @ Dodgers || 6–1 || Darvish (2–1) || Kershaw (3–2) || — || 15,222 || 12–10 || W2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 23 || April 24 || @ Dodgers || 4–5 || Bauer (3–0) || Johnson (0–1) || Jansen (5) || 15,596 || 12–11 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 24 || April 25 || @ Dodgers || 8–7 || Hill (1–2) || Cleavinger (0–1) || Melancon (8) || 15,316 || 13–11 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 25 || April 27 || @ Diamondbacks || 1–5 || Kelly (2–2) || Paddack (1–3) || — || 10,486 || 13–12 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 26 || April 28 || @ Diamondbacks || 12–3 || Northcraft (1–0) || Smith (1–1) || — || 9,495 || 14–12 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 27 || April 30 || Giants || 3–2 || Darvish (3–1) || Webb (1–2) || Melancon (9) || 15,250 || 15–12 || W2

|- style="background:#bfb;" | 28 || May 1 || Giants || 6–2 || Snell (1–0) || DeSclafani (2–1) || — || 15,250 || 16–12 || W3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 29 || May 2 || Giants || 1–7 || Gausman (2–0) || Musgrove (2–3) || — || 15,250 || 16–13 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 30 || May 3 || Pirates || 2–0 || Hill (2–2) || Anderson (2–3) || Melancon (10) || 15,250 || 17–13 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 31 || May 4 || Pirates || 1–2 || Keller (2–3) || Weathers (1–1) || Rodríguez (5) || 15,250 || 17–14 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 32 || May 5 || Pirates || 4–2 || Stammen (2–1) || Underwood Jr. (1–1) || Melancon (11) || 15,250 || 18–14 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 33 || May 7 || @ Giants || 4–5 || Doval (1–1) || Kela (2–2) || McGee (8) || 9,219 || 18–15 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 34 || May 8 || @ Giants || 1–7 || Gausman (3–0) || Musgrove (2–4) || — || 9,764 || 18–16 || L2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 35 || May 9 || @ Giants || 11–1 || Weathers (2–1) || Cueto (2–1) || — || 10,008 || 19–16 || W1 |- style="background:#bbb;" | — || May 10 || @ Rockies || colspan=7 | Postponed (rain, makeup May 12) |- style="background:#bfb;" | 36 || May 11 || @ Rockies || 8–1 || Díaz (1–0) || Senzatela (1–4) || — || 8,825 || 20–16 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 37 || May 12 || @ Rockies || 5–3 || Pagán (3–0) || Gray (4–3) || Melancon (12) || N/A || 21–16 || W3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 38 || May 12 || @ Rockies || 2–3 || Almonte (1–1) || Ramirez (0–1) || — || 11,968 || 21–17 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 39 || May 14 || Cardinals || 5–4 || Musgrove (3–4) || Oviedo (0–2) || Melancon (13) || 15,250 || 22–17 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 40 || May 15 || Cardinals || 13–3 || Díaz (2–0) || Wainwright (2–4) || — || 15,250 || 23–17 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 41 || May 16 || Cardinals || 5–3 || Lamet (1–0) || Kim (1–1) || Melancon (14) || 15,250 || 24–17 || W3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 42 || May 17 || Rockies || 7–0 || Darvish (4–1) || Gray (4–4) || — || 15,250 || 25–17 || W4 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 43 || May 18 || Rockies || 2–1 || Johnson (1–1) || Bard (1–3) || — || 15,250 || 26–17 || W5 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 44 || May 19 || Rockies || 3–0 || Musgrove (4–4) || Gonzalez (2–2) || Melancon (15) || 15,250 || 27–17 || W6 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 45 || May 21 || Mariners || 16–1 || Paddack (2–3) || Flexen (4–2) || — || 15,250 || 28–17 || W7 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 46 || May 22 || Mariners || 6–4 || Stammen (3–1) || Sheffield (3–4) || Melancon (16) || 15,250 || 29–17 || W8 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 47 || May 23 || Mariners || 9–2 || Darvish (5–1) || Misiewicz (2–3) || — || 15,250 || 30–17 || W9 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 48 || May 24 || @ Brewers || 3–5 || Woodruff (3–2) || Snell (1–1) || Hader (11) || 14,524 || 30–18 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 49 || May 25 || @ Brewers || 7–1 || Hill (3–2) || Burnes (2–4) || — || 13,566 || 31–18 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 50 || May 26 || @ Brewers || 2–1 || Adams (1–0) || Suter (3–3) || Melancon (17) || 13,478 || 32–18 || W2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 51 || May 27 || @ Brewers || 5–6 || Suter (4–3) || Díaz (2–1) || — || 13,572 || 32–19 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 52 || May 28 || @ Astros || 10–3 || Melancon (1–0) || Raley (2–3) || — || 32,045 || 33–19 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 53 || May 29 || @ Astros || 11–8 || Adams (2–0) || Garza (0–1) || Díaz (1) || 31,323 || 34–19 || W2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 54 || May 30 || @ Astros || 4–7 || Greinke (5–2) || Snell (1–2) || — || 29,019 || 34–20 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 55 || May 31 || @ Cubs || 2–7 || Stewart (1–0) || Paddack (2–4) || — || 24,824 || 34–21 || L2

|- style="background:#fbb;" | 56 || June 1 || @ Cubs || 3–4 || Hendricks (6–4) || Weathers (2–2) || Kimbrel (13) || 24,824 || 34–22 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 57 || June 2 || @ Cubs || 1–6 || Alzolay (4–4) || Johnson (1–2) || — || 24,824 || 34–23 || L3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 58 || June 3 || Mets || 4–3 || Darvish (6–1) || Walker (4–2) || Melancon (18) || 15,250 || 35–23 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 59 || June 4 || Mets || 2–0 || Snell (2–2) || Lucchesi (1–4) || Melancon (19) || 15,250 || 36–23 || W2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 60 || June 5 || Mets || 0–4 || deGrom (5–2) || Musgrove (4–5) || — || 15,250 || 36–24 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 61 || June 6 || Mets || 2–6 || Stroman (5–4) || Paddack (2–5) || — || 15,250 || 36–25 || L2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 62 || June 7 || Cubs || 9–4 || Weathers (3–2) || Alzolay (4–5) || — || 15,250 || 37–25 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 63 || June 8 || Cubs || 1–7 || Davies (3–3) || Lamet (1–1) || — || 16,207 || 37–26 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 64 || June 9 || Cubs || 1–3 || Brothers (2–0) || Darvish (6–2) || Kimbrel (15) || 15,250 || 37–27 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 65 || June 11 || @ Mets || 2–3 || deGrom (6–2) || Snell (2–3) || Díaz (11) || 26,637 || 37–28 || L3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 66 || June 12 || @ Mets || 1–4 || Stroman (6–4) || Musgrove (4–6) || Díaz (12) || 25,463 || 37–29 || L4 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 67 || June 13 || @ Mets || 7–3 || Paddack (3–5) || Familia (2–1) || — || 19,581 || 38–29 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 68 || June 14 || @ Rockies || 2–3 || Gomber (6–5) || Lamet (1–2) || Bard (9) || 23,027 || 38–30 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 69 || June 15 || @ Rockies || 4–8 || Estévez (1–0) || Hill (3–3) || — || 22,871 || 38–31 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 70 || June 16 || @ Rockies || 7–8 || Estévez (2–0) || Adams (2–1) || — || 18,798 || 38–32 || L3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 71 || June 17 || Reds || 6–4 || Johnson (2–2) || Garrett (0–2) || — || 40,362 || 39–32 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 72 || June 18 || Reds || 8–2 || Paddack (4–5) || Santillan (0–1) || — || 33,456 || 40–32 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 73 || June 19 || Reds || 7–5 || Crismatt (2–1) || Hembree (1–2) || Melancon (20) || 38,765 || 41–32 || W3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 74 || June 20 || Reds || 3–2 || Lamet (2–2) || Castillo (2–10) || Melancon (21) || 38,004 || 42–32 || W4 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 75 || June 21 || Dodgers || 6–2 || Darvish (7–2) || Urías (9–3) || — || 42,220 || 43–32 || W5 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 76 || June 22 || Dodgers || 3–2 || Snell (3–3) || Kershaw (8–7) || Melancon (22) || 42,667 || 44–32 || W6 |- style="background:#bfb;"