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Padres Weekly Watch: Can this loaded lineup deliver?

By Tim Boyle

Oct 18, 2022; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish (11) reacts to an out during the first inning of game one of the NLCS for the 2022 MLB Playoffs against the Philadelphia Phillies at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2022; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish (11) reacts to an out during the first inning of game one of the NLCS for the 2022 MLB Playoffs against the Philadelphia Phillies at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports /
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The San Diego Padres powered up this offseason with free-agent additions and contract extensions for their stars. The hype is real. Here’s what to watch on Opening Day and beyond.

No team may be as all in to win as the San Diego Padres. They unexpectedly signed free agent shortstop Xander Bogaerts this offseason to pile on top of an already stacked roster. Showing they have plans to compete for several years, starting pitchers Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove each received extensions. Biggest of all, the team made sure Manny Machado isn’t leaving anytime soon.

The Padres made it to the NLCS last season by rolling through the New York Mets and rival Los Angeles Dodgers. The Padres learned they can hang with the mighty Dodgers and made several offseason moves to possibly surpass the longtime foe.

The 2023 season should be a big one for Padres fans who’ll be treated to competitive baseball from start to finish. Juan Soto is back and ready to show the team trading the farm for him last summer was the right move to make. The same goes for star closer Josh Hader who will look to finish off games once again this year.

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Here’s what San Diego Padres fans should be watching for this week:

Opening Day: Mar. 30 vs. Colorado Rockies

Projected Padres starting pitcher: Yu Darvish

With Joe Musgrove on the IL due to a weight room incident, there is no question who will start the season opener against the Colorado Rockies for the Padres. The ball will land in Yu Darvish’s hand in San Diego on March 30. Darvish is coming off of a huge year, finishing 16-8 with a 3.10 ERA in his 30 regular season starts. Now signed through the 2028 season, he’s going to want to make a good early impression.

The same goes for designated hitter Nelson Cruz. A teammate of Soto’s last season with the Washington Nationals, the 42-year-old slugger is already older than Darvish will be when his contract runs out. Cruz saw his power numbers drastically decline last season with only 10 in 507 plate appearances while slugging just .337. Can adding his bat into the middle of a more dangerous lineup get him back to his .500+ slugging ways? Facing any of the Rockies’ pitchers should help.

Mar. 31 vs. Colorado Rockies

Projected Padres starting pitcher: Blake Snell

Padres fans can expect Blake Snell to get the ball in the second game of the season. Another pitcher coming off of a productive season, he was 8-10 with a 3.38 ERA in his 24 regular season starts. The 2018 Cy Young Award winner got off to a bumpy start with the Padres in 2021 only to come back and pitch much better last year. Snell is eligible for free agency after the 2023 season so he’ll want to make the most out of every start.

Closer Josh Hader could join Snell in free agency next winter, too. Another star player the team has acquired via trade in recent seasons, he’ll be looking to follow the same rhythm Snell did. Hader was not particularly good in his first year with the Padres but a strong postseason will hopefully carry over into 2023.

Apr. 1 vs. Colorado Rockies

Projected Padres starting pitcher: Michael Wacha

The Padres could decide to turn to free-agent addition Michael Wacha in the third game of the season. He had a huge rebound season with the Boston Red Sox last year. Originally projected as the number four starter, the Musgrove injury pushes Wacha up in the rotation. He gave the Red Sox an 11-2, 3.32 ERA performance in 2022. Padres fans will have to hope the trend continues.

Even though the Rockies finished last in the National League West last season, they have some punishers in the lineup. A healthy Kris Bryant is always a problem. First baseman C.J. Cron is coming off of a year where he hit 29 home runs and drove in 102. It’s rarely an easy game against the Rockies even when the setting is away from Coors Field.

Apr. 2 vs. Colorado Rockies

Projected Padres starting pitcher: Nick Martinez

The opening series concludes with the Padres turning to projected starter Nick Martinez. The other option, Seth Lugo, is coming over from the New York Mets after years of working as a reliever. Martinez pitched as a hybrid for the Padres last season, making 10 starts and 37 relief appearances. He’s a weapon Bob Melvin can continue to use in a variety of ways.

Another potential weapon for the Padres is Matt Carpenter. The veteran utility hit under .200 during his last two seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals. In a shocking turn of events, he smashed 15 home runs for the New York Yankees last year in only 154 trips to the plate. His outlandish .727 slugging percentage was enough to convince the Padres he was worth adding to their roster this year. Expect him to play all over the field.

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