Padres' starting rotation is major issue in pursuit of Dodgers for NL West title
This rotation problem could hold the Padres back all year.
Padres' starting rotation is major issue in pursuit of Dodgers for NL West title originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The San Diego Padres , even though the roster isn't exactly in a perfect state, should still be serious contenders for the postseason, the NL West, and potentially even the World Series.
Beating the Los Angeles Dodgers is a possibility for this team. While there is a lot to like about this Padres team, with the bullpen and the lineup being in great spots, there is one area that is a major question mark entering the season: the starting rotation. ESPN's Bradford Doolittle identified the Padres rotation, and specifically the 1.
6 bWAR production of the starters other than Nick Pivetta last season, as the main question the Padres need to answer this season with the rest of their rotation. Padres have to answer rotation issue to hang with Dodgers "Pivotal number: 1. 6.
With Joe Musgrave and Griffin Canning starting off on the IL, this figure represents the combined 2026 bWAR total of the four members of the Padres' Opening Day rotation not named Nick Pivetta," Doolittle writes. Other than Pivetta, the Padres' rotation to begin the season will consist of Michael King, Randy Vasquez, German Marquez, and Walker Buehlar. All of those pitchers have shown upside in their careers, but last season, they each had their struggles or areas of concern.