Hot Lava Podcast

40 Episodes
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By: San Diego Union-Tribune

The Union-Tribune’s Padres writer Kevin Acee and sports editor Ryan Finley discuss all things Padres — the significance of the upcoming series, who’s hot and who’s not plus the comings and goings of all the hot lava talent in the minors.

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Los Angeles Dodgers
#365
Yesterday at 10:02 PM

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley discuss the upcoming Dodgers series, the sweep of the Braves and the state of the starting rotation.


Atlanta Braves
#364
Last Monday at 9:27 PM

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley discuss the Padres' disappointing road trip, the state of the starting rotation and the big week ahead against the Braves and Dodgers.


Texas Rangers
#363
06/19/2026

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley discuss the Padres’ offense, hitting coach Steven Souza Jr. and the upcoming series against the Rangers.


St. Louis Cardinals
#362
06/15/2026

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley discuss the San Diego Chihuahuas and the Padres upcoming series against the Cardinals.


Baltimore Orioles
#361
06/12/2026

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley discuss Manny Machado working to get back to his usual form, Fernando Tatis Jr. getting hot and the upcoming series against the Orioles.


Cincinnati Reds
#360
06/08/2026

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley discuss the Padres' offensive struggles and the upcoming series against the Reds.


New York Mets
#359
06/05/2026

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley discuss the Padres atrocious road trip and the upcoming series against the Mets.


Philadelphia Phillies
#358
06/02/2026

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley discuss the Padres' rough series against the Nationals, the upcoming challenge against the Phillies and the importance of the next couple weeks as they pertain to the trade deadline.


Washington Nationals
#357
05/29/2026

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley discuss the Padres' struggles, what needs to happen for them to improve and look at the Nationals.


Athletics
#356
05/22/2026

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley discuss what went wrong and right for the Padres against the Dodgers and the upcoming series against the Athletics.


Los Angeles Dodgers
#355
05/18/2026

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley discuss the Padres' offensive surge in Seattle, Lucas Giolito's debut and the upcoming series against the Dodgers.


Seattle Mariners
#354
05/15/2026

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley discuss the Padres’ struggling offense, Lucas Giolito’s imminent arrival and the upcoming series against the Mariners.


St. Louis Cardinals
#353
05/07/2026

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley discuss the Padres bench, Craig Stammen’s moves, Walker Buehler and the upcoming series against the Cardinals.


San Francisco Giants
#352
05/04/2026

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley discuss the Padres dropping two of three to the White Sox and the upcoming series against the Giants.


Chicago White Sox
#351
05/01/2026

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley discuss the Padres’ pitching, Fernando Tatis Jr.’s zero home runs and the foul ball that wasn’t, along with a preview of the series against the White Sox.


Chicago Cubs
#350
04/27/2026

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley reflect on the Mexico City trip and discuss what is right and wrong with the Padres heading into a series against the Cubs.


Colorado Rockies
#349
04/21/2026

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley discuss how the Padres are having so much success despite their stars not regularly producing. Plus a look ahead to a week spent playing at altitude.


Los Angeles Angels
#348
04/17/2026

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley discuss the pending sale of the Padres, the state of the starting rotation and the teams’s success so far.


Colorado Rockies
#347
04/09/2026

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley discuss the resurrected offense, the new City Connect uniforms and the upcoming series against the Rockies.


Pittsburgh Pirates
#346
04/06/2026

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley discuss the Padres’ first series win over the weekend in Boston, wonder what Manny Machado was doing playing soccer and look ahead to the series against the Pirates.


Red Sox
#345
04/02/2026

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley discuss the Padres starting rotation (again), the offense (again), Luis Campusano (again) and Xander Bogaerts’ return to Fenway Park.


San Francisco Giants
#344
03/30/2026


Opening Day preview
#343
03/24/2026

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley preview the Padres season with a focus on the rotation, how Jason Adam’s early absence affects the bullpen and Manny Machado’s rough spring.


Finalizing the roster
#342
03/19/2026

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley discuss the WBC (and Mason Miller), the Padres’ starting rotation situation and the battle for the final outfield spot.


Spring training check in
#341
03/11/2026

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley discuss the recent issues at the front of the starting rotation and the competition at the back of it, Sung-Mun Song’s status and what does it mean that Fernando Tatis Jr. is doing so well and having so much fun in the World Baseball Classic.


Halfway through spring training
#340
03/05/2026

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley discussed Joe Musgrove’s return to the mound, battles for the final bench and starting rotation spots and Alex Verdugo’s arrival in Padres minor league camp.


Progress from Peoria
#339
02/26/2026

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley discuss the Padres' rotation, the battle for the final bench spot and the status of pitchers coming back from injury.


Roster Updates
#338
02/18/2026

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley discuss A.J. Preller’s extension and the flurry of recent signings by the Padres.


Back in Peoria
#337
02/11/2026

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley discuss the start of Padres spring training, Craig Stammen and starting pitching possibilities.


Mike Shildt’s retirement
#336
10/15/2025

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley discuss the circumstances around w as Padres manager.


Chicago Cubs (Wild Card Series)
#335
09/30/2025

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley preview the Padres-Cubs Wild Card Series.


Arizona Diamondbacks
#334
09/26/2025

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley talk about the Ramón Laureano injury, the Padres’ starting rotation and the playoff picture.


Milwaukee Brewers
#333
09/22/2025

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley discuss the Padres” playoff clenching scenarios, Michael King’s readiness and how the Padres can flip the switch.


Chicago White Sox
#332
09/19/2025

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley discuss the Padres’ playoff scenarios, the starting pitching and the upcoming series against the White Sox.


New York Mets
#331
09/16/2025

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley discuss the Padres’ playoff possibilities, the starting rotation and the upcoming series against the Mets.


Colorado Rockies
#330
09/11/2025

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley discuss what has plagued the Padres and what needs to change as the playoffs approach.


Cincinatti Reds
#329
09/08/2025

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley discuss the Padres’ upcoming series against the Reds, Michael King’s return and playoff positioning.


Colorado Rockies
#328
09/04/2025

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley discuss the Padres pitching staff and how worrisome their recent slide is.


Minnesota Twins
#327
08/28/2025

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley discuss the Padres’ starting rotation, lineup construction and playoff chances.


Seattle Mariners
#326
08/26/2025

Kevin Acee and Ryan Finley recap the Dodgers series and what it meant and look ahead to the Padres series against the Mariners.