After a flurry of offseason acquisitions, the Padres entered the season with arguably one of the deepest pools of rotation candidates in the game. But just a month into the season, even the Padres are already looking at a bullpen game. Miguel Diaz will be the nominal starter today, but the 26-year-old right-hander has been working 3-4 inning stints at the Padres’ alternate site in preparation, writes Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. He has appeared in 47 games for the Padres going back to 2017 and only three times as a starter.
In the near term, the Padres are holding out hope that either Ryan Weathers or Dinelson Lamet will be ready to start on Tuesday, adds Acee. Said manager Jayce Tingler, “Both of them were pretty aggressive with their bullpens today and came out reporting feeling well. We think that’s a good step for both guys. We’ll see how they respond tomorrow and go from there.”
Lamet has made just one start his year, going two scoreless before being removed because of forearm soreness. Weathers, 21, was the youngest starting pitcher in baseball, and he’d been nothing short of brilliant before leaving his last start with arm soreness. The young southpaw has a 0.55 ERA/3.23 FIP over 16 1/3 innings combined out of the pen and rotation.
There remains no word on Chris Paddack, who was placed on the injured list without an injury designation. Presumably, that points to something Covid-19-related (be it a positive test, close contact or self-reported symptoms). That could mean a quick turnaround for Paddack as we have seen with a few players this year, but only time will tell. If Paddack isn’t able to return shortly, the Friars hope that Lamet and Weathers could fill out the rotation. Otherwise, Diaz may be in for more than just a spot start.
DarkSide830
its amazing that within a month the Padres went from having Musgrove/Snell/Lamet as a 4th starter to having a TBA in the 5th spot and Miguel Diaz as their effecive #4. baseball is WILD.
justacubsfan
Kind of shows why you should never go all-in for 1 season., let alone double down in the offseason.
bbatardo
All in for 1 season? Darvish and Snell have 3 years of control and Musgrove 2 years.
padreforlife
Darvish is 37
vtadave
Does being from Japan automatically add three years to your true age?
Dustyslambchops23
But did they give up enough for Darvish to mark it as ‘all in’
dvmin98
Nice try…34 is the correct answer
Brew’88
Darvish for Davies (18 Walks in 23 INN, 8+ ERA) might end up being the worst trade in Cubs history
yodarob21
Nolan Ryan was 44 when he tossed his last no hitter. Age is just a number for effective pitchers.
1984wasntamanual
Then it’s a good thing that wasn’t the trade.
groundhog5150
@Brewer88
Lou Brock says hi.
ukpadre
It depends on what they lean on for success. If it is velocity then you’re generally going to have a bad time when you get ‘old’ (though of course there are always exceptions). However, Darvish isn’t that style of pitcher, so I think he has the makeup to pitch until 40 and still be effective. Fortunately he’s only 34 and not 37!
Brew’88
@ groundhog. ha ha, that was a bad one yes, before my time though
PadresRocker
Correction. Darvish is 34, turns 35 in August.
Mikel Grady
Darvish and Davies same $ and years ? Cubs did a $ dump with Darvish . Knew next 3 years were not winning anything . Got players in trade 4-5 years out . Darvish will be retired and Padres no rings while Cubs reload . They should have held him to trade deadline but feared he would get injured . Hopefully Bryant stays hot and they get a haul
czech
Darvish is 34
JrodFunk5
Anomaly
iRiE-G
Not just one season genious
bamck
At what point will they consider promoting Gore?
bbatardo
Interesting tidbit in the Athletic about Gore. Command issues still, but apparently hit Steven Souza Jr in alternate site game and they exchanged some words.
larry48
Gore can not throw strikes, has very little of idea where baseball is going.
larry48
gore 2025,
junkmale
Judging by the way ESPN grovels at Tatis Jr’s feet, I’m surprised they haven’t suggested letting him pitch a few games. He is perfect, after all.
padreforlife
Perfect projecting 80 errors for season
Brew’88
why do you watch (grovel at) ESPN?
LongBeachPadre
Crazy how they are doing so well given the injuries.
They would have (without injuries)
SP 1:: Darvish
SP 2: Clevinger
SP 3: Snell
SP 4: Lamet
SP 5: Musgrove
SP 6: Weathers
SP 7: Paddack
SP 8: Gore/Anyone else
Bummer about all of these injuries. Even the dodgers have a lot of injuries.
larry48
Padres still suck with all the pitchers.
dvmin98
How so?
Longtimecoming
And We have another mute candidate!
Hudson6
That must be why they are so far behind, right?
Brew’88
you forgot Morejon, who would slot in at 6 on your list
larry48
Who will suck more this year Paddock or Diaz or someone else?
Hudson6
You sound like you may have a stick up your behind larry48. Perhaps you should get that checked out?
ukpadre
Nah, he likes it there. It’s the only memory of his daddy he has since he left “for cigarettes”…
ukpadre
My guess is they’ll both perform better than Dustin May hahahaha
Longtimecoming
Someone else – Larry48 is the winner!
Jasona9
At least Yu Darvish is starting game 3 against Pittsburgh! Those Pirates proved to be ‘pesky’ during the first four game series in Pittsburgh. With Yu, the Padres should be assured one win for sure. I hope they can at least split Monday and Tuesday and win the series. GO PADRES.
DrDan75
The Padres always do that. They will play well against the Dodgers and then drop two of three to the Pirates or Rockies.
I Beg To Differ
Anibal Sanchez
Jeff Samardjza
Mike Leake
Nate Karns
Come to mind as guys available in the event they need to sign a starter off the streets to be a #5.
Longtimecoming
Cole Hamels still out there?
Hudson6
I hear he re-signed with the Rancho Bernardo Broncos.
Longtimecoming
Bartolo would fit nicely in Petco. He can pinch hit even!
Dennis Boyd
What’s more concerning than the Padres rotation is their amazing ability to make every starter they face look like deGrom. They haven’t chased a starter for over 2 weeks and have allowed quality starts to 12 of last 14 starters against them. They can’t touch the opposing starter, good thing they do well against the opposition bullpen.
Brew’88
Gene Richards would be the best hitter on this team.
nutznboltz
PhD End it doesn’t matter what the opposing pitchers ERA is. They faced many pictures this year that had an 8.0 ERA 10.0 ERA and even a 14.0 ERA and still can’t hit them.