The San Diego Padres reached the halfway point of the 2025 season this past weekend. It has been filled with plenty of highs and lows.

Each month began with an extended winning streak, as the Padres opened the season with seven straight wins. Both May and June started with four-game winning streaks.

On the other side of the coin, the Friars had a losing streak during each month in the first half. In March and April, they lost four straight games, followed by six consecutive losses in May. June saw the Padres have two three-game losing streaks.

However, the big picture remains promising, as the Friars are one game out of the final Wild Card postseason berth with a 45-39 record. For all the recent warts: bullpen meltdowns, struggles with bringing home runners in scoring position, and starting pitching ineffectiveness, the clubhouse has a sense that the best is yet to come.

A lights-out bullpen has fallen on hard times

The bullpen was supposed to be a strength for the 2025 Padres. However, this group have struggled to hold leads late in games. The Friars’ pen has a 3.36 ERA, but four relievers have an ERA over 3.40 (Jeremiah Estrada with a 3.41 ERA, Wandy Peralta with a 3.82 ERA, and Yuki Matsui with a 4.73 ERA). The lone saving grace has been Adrian Morejon and his 1.96 ERA over 36.2 innings pitched. The left-hander has silenced right-handed batters with a .177 batting average, and lefties are not faring much better with a .182 BA.

Concerns are high for closer Robert Suarez, who has a 3.89 ERA that has risen steadily over the last two months. He finished April with a 0.75 ERA and 10 saves. In May, he finished with a 4.35 ERA with six saves. June has been a complete disaster, as Suarez threw to a 7.84 ERA. The numbers are alarming, as he gave up nine earned runs on 14 hits in 10.1 innings pitched in the month.

It will be a challenge for pitching coach Ruben Niebla and bullpen coach Ben Fritz to find a path for the unit to get back on track. The pen needs to regain its confidence if the Padres are going to play October baseball.

Padres are getting inconsistent offensive production

The top of the Padres’ batting order has done the heavy lifting all season. They have received consistent production from Gavin Sheets, as he is on pace to hit 27 HR and knock in 100 RBI this season. Manny Machado is having another outstanding season, batting .293/.355/.475 with 13 HRs and 47 RBIs. The Friars rely on them to drive in the majority of the runs scored.

The bottom of the order has failed to hit with runners in scoring position, which may force the front office to add another bat to the lineup. The better teams in baseball have deep batting orders; the Padres need another productive hitter to become an explosive attack.

Starting rotation decimated by injuries and inconsistency

Typically, a baseball season brings adversity to a starting rotation. The Friars have struggled to navigate through their own set of injuries. They lost ace Yu Darvish to elbow inflammation during spring training and have been without Michael King since mid-May.

The rotation’s internal candidates have been inconsistent, as their performance has defined the Padres’ first half. If Darvish and King cannot pitch again in 2025, do not be surprised if the Friars add another arm at the trade deadline. To make the postseason, they will need a starter of their caliber on the mound every fifth day.

The lone bright spot has been Nick Pivetta, who has been outstanding. He has limited base runners by attacking the strike zone. Pivetta’s confidence has been growing since he arrived in Peoria this past spring. The hope is that opposing hitters continue to be frustrated because they cannot touch Pivetta’s overpowering pitching arsenal.

A baseball season is full of good and bad moments. Yes, the Friars could have played better than they have shown. But before locking up a postseason berth, there is still work to be done.

The next 78 games will be a test for the Padres.