Padres’ Starting Rotation Keeps Team Afloat in Playoff Race
TORONTO — The San Diego Padres have their starting rotation to thank for keeping them in the playoff picture as they work their way back into contention. With a season-best 3.71 ERA in the National League, the rotation has been outstanding, even without Yu Darvish at his dominant best for most of the year.
Darvish, however, seems to be rounding into form. In a 2-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night, the veteran right-hander pitched six scoreless innings, leading the Padres to their second straight win. This performance might have tilted the Trade Deadline needle slightly towards the “buyer” side for the Padres.
Darvish’s season has been a bit strange, starting with his role for Team Japan at the World Baseball Classic. After pitching in relief in the Final, his regular season buildup was delayed. Despite hitting a rut around mid-May and dealing with an illness in June, Darvish has posted an impressive 2.25 ERA in his three starts since his return.
Manny Machado, who delivered the decisive two-out, two-run single in the fifth inning, expressed his confidence in Darvish’s recent performances, stating, “Last two starts he’s been on point. I think even before that he was starting to feel himself. Our staff is starting to get together. Our team is starting to get together. Good things are going to be coming.”
In addition to Darvish’s improvement, the Padres received positive news regarding their rotation. Michael Wacha played catch for the first time since landing on the injured list with a shoulder issue, hinting at a possible return in the near future.
When the San Diego rotation is healthy, it is one of the best in the league. Despite lacking organizational depth, the Padres have managed to maintain the best rotation ERA in the NL. However, they have been forced to rely on depth starters on 17 occasions this season, resulting in a combined 7.74 ERA in those outings.
With the Trade Deadline looming, the Padres face a crucial decision regarding their rotation. Will they position themselves as buyers or sellers? Their current stance appears to be open to both possibilities.
If they choose to buy, reinforcing the back-end of their rotation for added security seems prudent. It may not be wise to solely rely on five starters older than 30 to remain healthy in such a critical period of the playoff race.
On the other hand, if they decide to sell, the Padres possess some intriguing trade assets. Blake Snell, who has been one of the best pitchers in the sport over the past two months, and Seth Lugo, who has quietly delivered strong performances this season, are both set to become free agents after the season.
Ideally, the Padres would prefer to avoid the selling scenario altogether. To do so, they’ll need to string together a few more wins before the Trade Deadline.
Wednesday night showcased everything falling into place around Darvish’s excellent start. The defense was solid, and the bullpen, featuring Steven Wilson, Nick Martinez, and Josh Hader, successfully closed out the game. With Machado leading the offensive charge, the Padres managed to secure the victory.
After a grueling weekend series in Philadelphia, where they dropped three out of four games, the Padres’ season appeared to be teetering. However, they once again managed to pull themselves back from the brink. With two consecutive wins, they have cut their deficit in the race for the final NL Wild Card spot to 6.5 games behind the Phillies.
Machado acknowledges the disappointment of the Philadelphia series but emphasizes the need to turn the page and focus on the upcoming games. He stated, “That hurt, that stung a little bit. But you turn the page. Move onto the next series, move onto the next game. Enjoy this one tonight. We’ve played two good games [this series]. But we’ve still got another one tomorrow. We’ve got to go out there and leave it on the field.”
The Padres’ starting rotation has been the backbone of their success this season. As they continue to make their push for the playoffs, the performance of their starters, including Darvish’s resurgence, will play a critical role in determining their fate.