With the start of the 2019 season rapidly approaching, I believe it’s time that we give you the ultimate breakdown of each division and predict their position in the standings come season’s end. It’s hard to predict record, so we’ll just give you their placement in the standings. Of course, this is coming from a fan’s perspective and what we think it could look like, not what it will. Today, we focus on the National League West and the San Diego Padres:
San Diego Padres
2018 record: 66-96, 5th in NL West
Projected Lineup:
2B Ian Kinsler
3B Manny Machado
1B Eric Hosmer
LF Wil Myers
SS Fernando Tatis Jr.
CF Manuel Margot
RF Hunter Renfroe
C Austin Hedges
Pitcher
Starting Rotation:
LH Joey Lucchesi
LH Eric Lauer
RH Luis Perdomo
LH Robbie Erlin
RH Bryan Mitchell
Key Bullpen Pieces:
RH Kirby Yates
RH Craig Stammen
LH Matt Strahm
Key Bench Pieces:
C Francisco Mejia
INF Luis Urias
OF Franchy Cordero
OF Travis Jankowski
As far as these predictions go, I am not considering the holding back of young prospects for two weeks in order to retain an additional year of service time. Therefore, I have the eventually everyday SS and number 2 overall prospect in all of baseball Fernando Tatis Jr. penciled in here. It only seems fitting to show you how exactly this lineup will look come May 1st and it’s a damn good one. Eric Hosmer is set to begin year 2 of his 8 year, $144 million contract and he looks to better his 2018 campaign in which he hit just .253 and had an OPS+ of 99. He’ll have some additional support in Tatis Jr. and the newly signed Manny Machado, who will be calling San Diego home for the next decade after signing a 10 year, $300 million contract. Although I’m sure he wants to be a SS, Machado is best set for 3B with Tatis Jr. to his left. Pretty scary left side of the infield. Let’s also not forget about Wil Myers who had a down, injury plagued 2018 and only appeared in 83 games. When healthy, these four will make a very dangerous 2-5 in that lineup, as well as being surrounded by guys like Kinsler, Renfroe and Luis Urias, Padres number 3 prospect, and Francisco Mejia, their number 4 prospect and the number 2 catching prospect in all of baseball. Urias and Mejia will be the everyday 2B and C very shortly.
What should be of concern to the Padres and their fans is the starting pitching as the rotation now is not a very scary one. With no true ace on the staff, the Padres will look to Lucchesi to be that guy. In his rookie campaign, Lucchesi started 25 games, pitching to a 4.08 ERA with 145 strikeouts in 130 innings. The loss of veteran starters Clayton Richard and Tyson Ross can prove to be a big blow with this young staff set to take the bump at Petco Park. One thing they can look forward two is two young studs in prospects Mackenzie Gore and Chris Paddack, the latter expected to debut in the majors at some point in 2019.
The bullpen also took a hit last year after trading Brad Hand to the Indians (to be fair, they did get their future everyday C in Francisco Mejia in that deal.) Heading into 2019, veterans Kirby Yates and Craig Stammen take control of the pen. Yates had a particularly good season last year, with a 2.14 ERA and 0.921 WHIP in 65 games. Stamman did as well. He ended the year with a 2.73 ERA, FIP of 2.19, and just 3 home runs allowed in 73 games. If the rotation is going to look the way it does now, at least it’s good to know you have two guys like this to anchor the bullpen.
With the signing of Manny Machado and the eventual rise of prospects Tatis Jr., Urias and Mejia, the Padres are ready to contend and take on the Dodgers in the West. However, due to their subpar rotation, it won’t be in 2019. But, a 5th place finish? I don’t think so.
2019 prediction: 3rd in NL West
