The San Diego Padres are preparing for their third NLDS matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the past five seasons. Both teams boast explosive lineups, but the Padres hold a crucial edge: starting pitching. While the Dodgers’ rotation remains depleted by injuries—missing stars like Tyler Glasnow and Clayton Kershaw—the Padres’ rotation looks ready to take control. After a dominant Wild Card series against the Braves, San Diego’s pitching staff appears poised to carry them deeper into October and potentially back to the NLCS.
Padres Rotation Outlook Ahead Of NLDS Matchup Against Dodgers
Joe Musgrove’s Uncertain Status
Although the Padres celebrated their first-ever postseason sweep with a win over the Braves, there was a cloud hanging over the festivities: the status of Joe Musgrove. The hometown ace left Wednesday’s 5-4 victory early with right elbow tightness, an issue that sidelined him for much of the season before his August return. Musgrove was cruising through 3 ⅔ innings, giving up just one hit and one run and fanning four batters before the injury struck.
In a postgame interview, Musgrove sounded optimistic about his recovery, telling 97.3 The Fan’s Tony Gwynn Jr. that he felt “physically better” and hoped to be back before the end of the postseason. However, given the nature of his injury, it’s possible that his optimism was fueled by the adrenaline of the moment. Realistically, the Padres may face the harsh truth that Musgrove could be sidelined for the rest of October. Even without him, San Diego’s rotation is strong enough to carry them on a deep playoff run.
.@tonygwynnjr spoke with Joe Musgrove about the elbow injury that caused him to leave tonight’s game early: pic.twitter.com/XqxU1Mbf1h
— 97.3 The Fan (@973TheFanSD) October 3, 2024
Rotation Order
Sweeping the Braves allowed Mike Shildt and the Padres to align their rotation perfectly for the NLDS, starting with Dylan Cease in Game 1. Here’s how the rotation order likely shapes up: 1. Dylan Cease 2. Yu Darvish 3. Michael King 4. Martin Pérez 5. Dylan Cease
If Musgrove can return, he would likely slide into Game 4, but as things stand, it will likely be a bullpen game. The Padres hope Pérez can give them three or four solid innings if needed. Though he struggled in his final regular-season start and has had some postseason troubles, Pérez has mostly been a steady back-end option since arriving from Pittsburgh at the trade deadline. He has a 3-1 record, a 3.46 ERA, and 44 strikeouts with San Diego.
Michael King Continues To Impress
Perhaps the biggest X-factor for the Padres’ rotation in this series is right-hander Michael King. The 29-year-old has developed into a true ace, a transformation that’s been a revelation for San Diego this season. King dominated in Game 1 of the Wild Card series, tossing seven shutout innings, allowing just five hits, and accumulating 12 strikeouts with a sweeper-heavy performance. If he and Cease continue to pitch at this elite level, San Diego will have a serious edge over the Dodgers’ injury-riddled staff.
Michael King had everything working tonight 😤@CY24_7 | #ForTheFaithful | @Padres pic.twitter.com/zML44O9uPY
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) October 2, 2024
A Clash Of NL Titans
Despite their pitching strength, the Padres know that taming the Dodgers’ offense will be no easy task. Los Angeles has some of the league’s best hitters in Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Shohei Ohtani. But the Padres aren’t short on firepower either, with sluggers like Manny Machado, Jackson Merrill, and Fernando Tatis Jr. anchoring the lineup. The key, however, may still come down to the arms. They’ll have the upper hand if San Diego’s rotation can keep the Dodgers’ stars in check.
Main Photo Credits: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
