Walker Buehler is making a strong push for a spot in the San Diego Padres rotation, and his recent performance against the San Francisco Giants certainly turned heads. Buehler threw five scoreless innings, racking up seven strikeouts while allowing just three hits and two walks.
Meanwhile, the San Diego offense struggled against San Francisco's Tyler Mahle, who's been lights out this spring with three wins and no runs allowed over 10 innings. However, the Padres found their groove in the sixth, scoring three runs off reliever Spencer Bivens, and held on for a 3-1 victory thanks to a solid bullpen effort.
In Padres news, manager Craig Stammen shared that Joe Musgrove is unlikely to be on the Opening Day roster as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. Musgrove, who last pitched on March 4 against Great Britain, is taking the necessary time to heal, which is crucial for the Padres' playoff aspirations.
With Musgrove's absence, the Padres' rotation has some question marks. Michael King, Nick Pivetta, and Randy Vasquez are set in the top spots, but the last two remain up for grabs. As Opening Day approaches, fans are understandably concerned about the rotation's depth.
Despite these concerns, there's optimism that the Padres can compete fiercely in the National League West. They’re expected to battle the Giants and Diamondbacks for second place, and there's even a chance they could challenge for the division title.
Fernando Tatis Jr. almost faced Mason Miller in a matchup that had fans buzzing, reminiscent of Ohtani vs. Trout. However, manager Stammen was relieved his stars didn't have to clash during the WBC semi-final, where the US edged out the Dominican Republic 2-1.
Jose Miranda is making the most of his Spring Training with the Padres, especially with Sung-Mun Song sidelined by an oblique injury. Miranda is in a tight race for a roster spot, but he's showing promise. Meanwhile, Luis Campusano remains the backup catcher, despite a slow offensive start this spring.
In broader baseball news, Phillies outfielder Johan Rojas is set to miss 80 games due to a PED suspension. Cleveland's Jose Ramirez is day-to-day with a sore shoulder but is feeling better, while Detroit's top prospect Kevin McGonigle is impressing in spring, making a strong case for a spot on the Opening Day roster against the Padres.