Chris Paddack has an undefined innings limit, but how are the San Diego Padres managing it efficiently?
Chris Paddack has been one of the best pitchers in the league this season, posting a 1.93 ERA in nine starts.
After his start on Monday, his ERA is now the lowest of any San Diego Padres pitcher in its franchise history in their first nine starts.
The biggest storyline when it comes to the rookie phenom is his innings limit that he is on to protect his arm.
People have been bringing up the question if Paddack will pitch in September due to the innings limit.
He has already had Tommy John surgery when he was a prospect so San Diego wants to be careful so he can pitch for years to come.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
The Padres have not officially set an innings limit for Paddack, but I would assume it would be somewhere in the range of 150 innings.
Right now we are about one third of the way into the season. Chris Paddack has pitched 51 1/3 innings so if you multiply that by three you would get 153.3 innings which is where the Padres would presumably shut him down for the season.
So, as of now, the Padres front office is quietly managing Paddack’s innings perfectly.
They are efficiently giving Paddack the rest he needs so he will have the longevity to get through September.
He has not pitched on a regular five days rest even once this season. Andy Green has given him five days off and then have him pitch on the sixth day which has slowly added up to a longer span of time to reach 50 innings.
For example, if a pitcher is going six innings a game, it would take them about 8 starts to reach 50 innings, but since Paddack is pitching every sixth day it wouldn’t necessarily take him more starts to get to 50 innings but it will further him into the season to reach that mark because of the six man rotation.
Cal Quantrill has been called up every couple weeks to make spots starts to ensure that Paddack and Matt Strahm are getting more rest.
Another way they have saved Paddack’s arm has been the schedule.
There was seven off days since the start of the season, so that has let Paddack along with Strahm rest before marking their next start.
While some people may not think Paddack will be able to last the season, the San Diego Padres are quietly setting him up to do exactly that.