With six games remaining in the San Diego Padres spring schedule, and a roster deadline coming quickly, tough decisions are around the corner.<\/p>\n
The announcement by manager Craig Stammen that Joe Musgrove will start the season on the IL should have come as no surprise to anyone who has noticed his absence since his first start on March 4. His following bullpen resulted in being placed on a \u201chold\u201d and he hasn\u2019t pitched since.<\/p>\n
Walker Buehler, in camp on a minor league deal, made a strong start on March 10 where he featured his off-speed pitches and only threw eight fastballs among his 68 pitches and 3.2 innings in a win versus the Los Angeles Angels.<\/p>\n
Table via @pitchprofiler on X<\/p>\n
Although results are not to be trusted in spring, his improvement over the past weeks shows that learning to pitch using all his pitches is progressing well. With the loss of Musgrove for the start of the season, Buehler should have a job. The deadline for adding him to the roster is March 21, his first opt-out opportunity.<\/p>\n
The rest of the competitors<\/p>\n
Germ\u00e1n M\u00e1rquez has had very inconsistent results since he joined the Padres on a major league contract. If his struggles continue (12.15 ERA in 6.2 IP) there could be a different pitcher filling the fifth rotation spot. No matter how they start the season, the Padres will have to name a fifth starter within the first couple of weeks. Using an opener or a bullpen start is a short-term fix. They have two off-days within the first eight games so they can take a little time to figure out their approach, possibly using a four-man rotation and carrying nine pitchers in the bullpen.<\/p>\n
It seems obvious that neither Tristan McKenzie nor Marco Gonzales have been effective enough to seriously contend for that spot. Lefty JP Sears has had moments during his appearances but has also shown command issues and has not been consistent. His velocity is up on his fastball, but he appears to need more time to master the strike zone.<\/p>\n
Matt Waldron is ready to pitch again after recovering from his surgery but will need time to build up to a starter length and perform well. His velocity has also increased on his fastball in his limited look before his surgery, but he is out of options and will have to make the team or be put on waivers before he could be sent to the minors after the IL.<\/p>\n
Besides Musgrove and Waldron, several other Padres are dealing with injury issues, and their status complicates the final roster decisions.<\/p>\n
Super-utility Sung-Mun Song has not appeared in a game since aggravating his oblique but has been hitting off a tee and is on a progression toward a slow return.<\/p>\n
Yuki Matsui has also not appeared in a game and threw a bullpen on March 14. Jason Adam has had field drills and sim games, next is his Cactus League debut and there will be an assessment after that. He is still aiming for Opening Day.<\/p>\n
Bryan Hoeing is having flexor tendon surgery and will be on the 60-day IL for the season. He will join Griffin Canning and Jhony Brito, who will miss at least a couple months.<\/p>\n
Infielder Will Wagner has an oblique strain and catcher Blake Hunt is also sidelined with an oblique injury.<\/p>\n
If Song isn\u2019t available, both Ty France and Jose Miranda have had great spring performances and could be named to the roster. France has a March 21 opt-out as his first opportunity to have a job here or elsewhere.<\/p>\n
Yu Darvish flew from Tokyo to Miami with a stop in Peoria, Ariz. to visit the Peoria Sports Complex last week. With the elimination of Japan from the WBC, Darvish should be back in Arizona with the Padres soon.<\/p>\n
At this point the performances of David Morgan, Bradgley Rodriguez, Adrian Morejon, Jeremiah Estrada and Kyle Hart would dictate that they are all on the roster for the start of the season. Hart, Estrada and Morgan haven\u2019t allowed a run and the others all have low ERAs. Adding Wandy Peralta, who should be back from the WBC in a day or so, allows for one or two more pitchers for the bullpen.<\/p>\n
Assuming Matsui is not ready, the last spot(s) will belong to Mason Miller and maybe one other pitcher. If there are eight to start, then that is the bullpen and Logan Gillaspie does not make the roster despite an impressive performance and no minor league options.<\/p>\n
The backup catcher, who has not had a good offensive spring showing, got a vote of confidence from manager Craig Stammen when asked about the catcher\u2019s status.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we\u2019re most concerned about with Campy is what he\u2019s doing behind the plate, and he\u2019s done really well behind the plate,\u201d Stammen said. \u201c\u2026 There\u2019s always competition for everything. Every time you take an at-bat, every time you step behind the dish, anytime you\u2019re on base, you\u2019re competing. With Campy, we\u2019re very satisfied with who he is and what he\u2019s done this spring with our pitching staff, and he\u2019s got a pretty strong hold on that second spot.\u201d<\/p>\n