SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres starting rotation could soon be getting very crowded.
By the first of June, the Padres could have seven major league caliber starting pitchers available.
Right now, the all-right-handed rotation is James Shields, Tyson Ross, Andrew Cashner, Odrisamer Despaigne and Brandon Morrow.
But right-hander Ian Kennedy seems to be hurrying back from his mandatory 15-day stay on the disabled list with a “mild” strain of his left hamstring. And right-hander Josh Johnson is moving quickly in his return from last season’s “Tommy John” elbow reconstruction surgery.
When asked about what his rotation might be configured in May, Padres manager — and former major league pitching coach — Bud Black said, “These things have a way of working themselves out.”
Despaigne, who held Arizona to one run on two hits over seven innings Tuesday night in his first start of the season, figures to return to being the long man in the bullpen when Kennedy returns after one or two rehab starts.
“Obviously, I would prefer to start,” Despaigne said through an interpreter Tuesday night. “But I’ll pitch where they need me.”
It will when more interesting if/when Johnson returns. Not that long ago, Johnson was one of the more dynamic starting pitchers in the National League with the Marlins. His stuff was that good. And from the reports we’ve heard from his early bullpen sessions, it might be that good again.
So, how do you get seven major league starters into a five-man rotation?
Shields has a 2.08 ERA with 15 strikeouts in his first 13 innings as the richest free agent the Padres have ever signed. Ross has a 3.75 ERA after two starts after his breakout season of 2014. Cashner has a 4.04 ERA after two starts, but is coming off a spring that was adversely impacted by the health of his mother in Texas.
Kennedy struck out 207 in 201 innings with the Padres last season. Despaigne has a 0.77 ERA after his first two outings. Morrow didn’t allow a run in seven innings in his Padres debut against the Giants and has a 1.29 ERA over his first two starts.
