Ranking the Top 5 Starting Rotations in MLB for 2015
By Lucas Reider
4. San Diego Padres
Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
After a bustling offseason, I am sure that this San Diego pitching staff is raring to hit the mound. Pitching and big signings weren’t the main goals by GM A.J. Preller at the start of the offseason, and it didn’t appear to be too necessary after last year’s San Diego starters posted a solid 3.55 combined ERA.
A slow market for James Shields however led the Friars to think otherwise. Signing a four-year, $70 million contract late in the offseason, Shields (14-8, 3.21 ERA in 2014) looks to lead a rotation to the postseason for a second year staright with his solidarity and veteran presence.
The one thing that kept the 2014 rotation from fame was a lack of run support the Padres experienced. With the acquisitions of Matt Kemp, Wil Myers, Derek Norris and Justin Upton, run support should no longer be a worry. A sure-fire ace still has to be found, but the amount of candidates San Diego has on its roster is promising. Andrew Cashner‘s 2.55 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 19 starts, Tyson Ross‘ 2.81 ERA in 31 starts and Ian Kennedy‘s 207 strikeouts in 201 IP should all be considered possibilities to emerge ahead of Shields as the star of this staff.
Padres starting rotation:
- RHP James Shields
- RHP Tyson Ross
- RHP Ian Kennedy
- RHP Andrew Cashner
- RHP Odrisamer Despaigne