San Diego Padres: Projecting 30-Man roster for 2020
With the lineup out of the way, here’s what the 2020 San Diego Padres rotation could look like.
- Chris Paddack
- Dinelson Lamet
- Zach Davies
- Garrett Richards
- Joey Lucchesi
This is a solid rotation as Paddack is an ideal candidate as baseball’s “next great ace” and Davies is the perfect middle of the rotation starter. However, the Friars could have some concerns with Richards and if he can stay healthy to make all 12 starts this season. Even in this condensed format, Richards might find himself being subjected to a pitch count or innings limit-per-start as he hasn’t pitched more than 100 innings in the majors since 2015.
Lamet might be the key to the Padres success in 2020. We are two years removed from his Tommy John surgery, so no more talk of pitch counts or innings limits when he climbs the hill for a start. Now, Lamet must show the ability to consistently hit the high-90s with his fastball and throw a breaking ball that turns batter’s legs into jelly. If accomplished, then Lamet becomes the perfect partner for Paddack atop the rotation.