There's never a good time for two-fifths of your starting rotation to be hit with injury concerns. But the timing of the current question marks surrounding Yu Darvish and Michael King is especially precarious.
The Padres begin a stretch of 26 games in 27 days on Friday. Four of those series are against division rivals, including seven games against the Dodgers. San Diego had been planning on having both in the rotation during that stretch. Those plans are now in doubt.
Darvish, who hasn't appeared in a game this season because of right elbow inflammation, made a rehab start with Triple-A El Paso on May 14. But he hasn't pitched in a game since, and it was later revealed that he experienced some soreness afterward. Evidently Darvish has been cleared to resume his ramp-up, as he played catch at Petco Park before Monday's series opener against the Marlins.
"He's in a good spot, and I saw a smile on his face," said Padres manager Mike Shildt. "So he's making steps forward. We'll see where it goes." |
Seems like good news. But as far as timelines go, you'll notice that answer is somewhat ambiguous. As ever, the Padres don't like putting timetables on their injuries, and especially not on their injured pitchers.
Which brings us to King, who landed on the 15-day injured list after he was scratched from his start on Saturday due to inflammation in his right shoulder. Again, Shildt expressed optimism. But, again, there's cause for concern: King is a starting pitcher on the IL with a shoulder injury.
At the very least, the Padres will begin this forthcoming stretch without King and Darvish in their rotation. It's unclear when (or if) they'll get them back during it.
So how do they withstand those absences? Shildt started to lay out the plan on Monday.
1. Kyle Hart will be recalled for Wednesday's start. Shildt made that announcement prior to Monday's game. Hart opened the season in the rotation but was optioned after he'd posted a 6.00 ERA through his first five starts.
There are ripple effects of that decision. Notably this one: Nick Pivetta and Dylan Cease are now lined up to pitch the final two games against the Giants next week, and if they stay on turn, they'd pitch the first two games of the season's first Padres-Dodgers series. |
2. Matt Waldron is on his way back. If King and Darvish were available, the Padres would've almost certainly gone with a six-man rotation at some point during the upcoming stretch -- which features 13 straight games, then an off-day, then 13 more.
To do that, however, the Padres need six healthy and capable starting pitchers. Waldron has made two rehab starts at Double-A San Antonio and his next could come at Triple-A El Paso. After missing the start of the season with a strained left oblique his return might come at the perfect time.
It's doubtful the Padres would use an extended six-man rotation now, without King and Darvish. But they could at least mix and match at the back end. Additionally...
3. It's time to rely on the 'pen. The Padres probably wouldn't turn to a full-on bullpen game as they did on Saturday in Atlanta when King was scratched and their plans were thrown into disarray.
But one of the strengths of this organization is its bullpen -- and particularly its bullpen depth. Bryan Hoeing could soon add to that depth when he returns from a right shoulder injury of his own. At the front of the rotation, the Padres can reasonably rely on Cease and Pivetta to provide length. At the back end, however, they can ride that 'pen. |
4. Get well soon. It's fair to be wary with shoulder and elbow injuries for two key starting pitchers. But the Padres remain outwardly hopeful on both. King's shoulder issue didn't arise from anything baseball-related, the team says. He felt a "knot" around his shoulder blade after waking up on Saturday, per Shildt.
Darvish, meanwhile, didn't look inhibited when he played catch from about 90 feet on Monday. Less than two weeks ago, he threw 51 pitches in a rehab start. If he can get back on a mound soon, there's every chance he could pick up right where he left off -- close to a return.
So yes, the Padres will likely begin a grueling June without two of their best pitchers. But they might not have to endure the entire stretch without them.
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MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
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Luis Arraez racked up 159 hits last season after he was dealt from Miami to San Diego. Who holds the Padres record for hits in a debut season with the club?
A. Steve Finley B. Mark Loretta C. Benito Santiago D. Gary Sheffield |
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The Padres' six-game homestand continues tonight with the second game of their three-game series against the Marlins. The first 40,000 in attendance receive a military hoodie in the design of the Padres' Sunday uniforms. Over the weekend, the Pirates come to town for a three-game series, with fireworks night slated for Friday. Single-game tickets are on sale here. |
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B. Loretta Loretta recorded 185 hits in 2003 after signing with the Padres as a free agent. |
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