San Diego Padres: Just When You Thought It Couldn’t Get Worse

Prepare yourselves, San Diego Padres fans. Everyone’s least favorite pitcher could be coming back soon.

When I started writing this piece, I was watching the San Diego Padres lose to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night in true Padres fashion. Manuel Margot continued his stretch of very impressive games, even sending a home run out to the Western Metal Supply building. Unfortunately, the rest of the offense was underwhelming, failing to draw a single walk.

That sort of production is expected out of the offense, however, it was the performance of Luis Perdomo that was even more depressing. His lack of minor league experience has been well documented, as have his major league struggles. After dominating in the Pacific Coast League this season, Perdomo has returned to the majors by alternating decent start/disastrous start.

I’m usually one of the last people to jump off a hype train of most players and I’m looking around the cabin now and don’t see many of you riding along Luis Perdofmo’s train with me. After giving up six runs on eight hits in 2.1 innings, Perdomo was yanked, raising his ERA to 7.94 this season. I think it’s time to jump off the train.

But wait! There’s more!

Bryan Mitchell could be coming back. As AJ Cassavell tweeted out before Friday’s game, Bryan Mitchell threw a simulated game and should be making a rehab start in the next few days. After listening to Andy Green, it seems very likely that we see Mitchell make more starts at the major league level this season.

Before he went on the disabled list, Mitchell posted a near 15% walk rate, a 2.03 WHIP, and a 7.08 ERA. His highly touted curveball fell flat,  like his entire first-half performance.

There’s no reason for Mitchell to be throwing another baseball in a San Diego Padres uniform. Even with Luis Perdomo heading for the disabled list (Green mentioned a shoulder injury after Friday night’s game), there are other options, like a few arms in El Paso who have yet to be given a chance to prove themselves.

Let’s leave the roster at Double-A San Antonio out of this discussion, for now. In his post-game interview, Green stated that Jordan Lyles could also be making his way back to the rotation. He should be another hard pass. Down in El Paso are a number of pitchers who have nothing left to prove in the minors.

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The Padres used a 40-man roster spot on Walker Lockett, to avoid losing him in the Rule-5 draft. He has been given 5.2 innings this season, some of that work coming in a relief appearance in which he was still on an airplane when the game started. The former fourth-round pick has traveled a long road in the Padres system since 2012. You would think he would finally be given a fair shake.

Brett Kennedy picked up his 10th win of the season last night, improving his record to 10-0 in El Paso. Kennedy has pitched at least five innings in every single start since May 8th, posting a 2.56 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP while pitching in a not so very pitcher-friendly league.

Kennedy isn’t a top prospect and doesn’t project as a long-term major league starting pitcher but he’s only 23 and the chances of him contributing to the organization down the road are much higher than Mitchell or Lyles.

There are still two months left in the 2018 season so we’re bound to see every AAA arm that deserves a chance get one, however, the talk of giving Mitchell and Lyles more rotation work is just another frustrating discussion.