San Diego Padres' Biggest Weakness So Far In 2016

The San Diego Padres are a good offensive team with a good defensive outfield. Just a month ago the pitching was carrying this team. A trade and a pair of injuries later and their staff is now in shambles. In fact, their mediocre pitching has been the Padres’ biggest weakness so far in 2016. While the bullpen looks ready to continue to improve, the same can’t be said for the rotation.

The Padres have lost three of the pitchers that they were building their rotation around in the offseason. Tyson Ross and Andrew Cashner have both been lost to injuries. James Shields on the other hand has been traded to the Chicago White Sox. Because of that changeover, some drop off was expected.

Erik Johnson came over in the Shields deal. He was supposed to be the cornerstone of the deal. He may still be, but right now he has an ERA over nine after an ERA near seven in Chicago. In eight starts in the minors with Chicago, he had an ERA under three. He just doesn’t seem to be ready for MLB, yet.

Luis Perdomo is only 23 and has made four starts after starting his MLB career this year in the bullpen.  He’s another pitcher with an ERA in the general area of nine. He was starter in the minors, but had never pitched above high A-ball until this season.

Colin Rea is the third pitcher in this mix. He was at least penciled in to be either a swingman or the first guy called upon should something happen. Instead he has been promoted to a middle-of-the-rotation spot much earlier than expected.

The bullpen is stabilizing now that Rea and Perdomo are in the rotation. Fernando Rodney is in his usual spot as the closer. Meanwhile, Ryan Buchter has been a great find as a setup man and Carlos Villanueva has reprised his role as a multi-inning reliever. The bullpen is full of veterans and should be fine the rest of the season.

The Padres’ season was derailed by injuries to the starting rotation early on in 2016. This was exacerbated by the front office’s decision to move Shields while the season was still young. Now the mediocre pitching is the Padres’ biggest weakness and will keep the team from contending in 2016.