The Padres’ rotation has reached the point where the problems are impossible to ignore.
San Diego’s starters have been putting too much pressure on the rest of the staff, and the biggest issue is simple: they are not lasting long enough. That short outing pattern has left the bullpen carrying a heavy load, and after the series loss to the rival Los Angeles Dodgers, the Padres have now had a starter leave a game while trailing for the 15th time in their last 31 contests.
For a team with World Series ambitions, that’s a rough place to be.
After the loss, manager Craig Stammen made it clear he wants more from the group on the mound.
“Yeah, they gotta pitch better, and they gotta throw strikes,” Stammen said. “That’s number one is you make the other team put the ball in play and play the percentages.
That’s number one. Number two is we just got to get a little bit better overall being able to manage getting through the game."
The struggles have been especially visible in June. Michael King has allowed 14 runs over 26.1 innings, Randy Vásquez has given up 18 runs in 20.2 innings and Griffin Canning has allowed 13 runs in 15 innings.
That kind of workload is not something the bullpen can absorb forever, even with how strong that relief group has been. Eventually, something has to give if the starters keep forcing the relievers into so many high-leverage innings.
Stammen said the staff has been searching for answers, and that includes more unconventional approaches.
“And then I think the other part is we can also try to be a little creative with it too - with the openers and all that stuff is still on the table. Bullpen games and things like that,” Stammen said.
“Everything’s on the table to try to make it better. You think of it, we’ll probably try it.”
Help could be coming later. Joe Musgrove and Nick Pivetta are expected back from elbow injuries in the second half, while Lucas Giolito and Germán Márquez are also on the injured list and should be closer to returns.
Even so, the Padres are not counting on reinforcements alone. The front office is expected to look for starting pitching before the trade deadline, especially with the club heading into a stretch that could shape how aggressive it wants to be.
For now, the message is clear: the starters have to do more, and they have to do it soon.
In Other News...
Joe Musgrove Update Just Made The Padres Rotation Feel Even Thinner
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Musgrove has been candid about how the rehab process can stall when the elbow does not cooperate, which is part of why he remains unable to build back toward game speed. San Diego is still holding out hope for help later in the season, but Musgrove is hardly the only name on the injured list of possible rotation answers, with several other starters also working their way back or limited, leaving the depth chart looking awfully thin in the meantime. [Read more 🡒]
Craig Stammen Owns Padres Mistake Fans Saw Coming Against Dodgers
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The decision point was obvious enough to spark second-guessing, especially in a game that stayed tight long enough to make every move matter. Stammen said the challenge is finding that line between preserving relievers and acting before an inning gets away, and he framed the experience as part of the learning curve that comes with managing in the majors. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Suddenly Have A Yu Darvish Question Again
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What makes this worth watching is that Darvish has denied retirement talk and is still under contract, which keeps the door open for a return whenever he is ready. Stammen even left open the possibility of a late-season surprise, the kind of development that would change the Padres pitching picture in an instant. For now, there is no clean answer on when that might happen, only the sense that Darvishs comeback timeline is no longer as fixed as it once seemed. [Read more 🡒]