Padres Weekly Recap: April 5th-12th, Let the Fun Begin

The Cubs made a push for the NL Central like the Padres did in the West. Who will win Round 1? Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Padres Week Ahead

The Padres have three games at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks before a day off on Thursday, then heading on the road to take on the new-look Chicago Cubs over the weekend. It is tough to say just what exactly the Padres need to work on at this point. The Padres ended the week at 4-3 and on some momentum taking 3 of 4 from the defending World Champions.

The starting pitching looked great this week, with James Shields and Tyson Ross both delivering two great starts. While Andrew Cashner‘s first start is some concern, I chalk it up more to Adrian Gonzalez being the zone than anything else. The Ian Kennedy’s injury is bad, but dramatically different than it might’ve been last year. This year Odrisamer Despaigne is an easy first resort, with Robbie Erlin waiting in AAA if further help if needed, or possibly even Brandon Maurer, who just got recalled to the major league roster. Brandon Morrow‘s first start with the Padres could not have gone better either, and a strong fifth starter like him could make a huge difference throughout the season.

The Diamondbacks sit at 3-3 on the season after taking two of three from the Dodgers over the weekend. The Cubs ended the first week at 3-3 and their offense got the benefit of already playing a series in Colorado to build up some confidence.

Current Record: 4-3

Standings: .5 out of 1st.

Predictions for Next Week: 5-1

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