What San Diego Padres lineup could look like in 2021, 2022

The rotation

I feel pretty good about the future of the lineup, but it’s the future of the starting rotation that could put this team over the top.

Injuries are a big part of being a pitcher and you can never predict when an injury may come, but we’re going to think optimistically here.

Here is what the 2021 starting rotation could look like:

MacKenzie Gore

Chris Paddack

Luis Patino

Dinelson Lamet

Joey Lucchesi

Those top three seem like a pretty safe bet and should be the top three in the starting rotation for years to come.

This season will be a big one for Lamet and will tell us a lot about his future.

Gore is one of the best prospects in all of baseball and we’re all certainly expecting him to become the ace of this staff.

We could see Gore make his debut in 2020, but it’s probably 2021 when he asserts himself as the team’s ace.

I don’t think we see Patino until September of 2020 or to start the 2021 season.

And really, you could give that fifth spot to just about anyone, but I think 2020 is going to be a big year for Lucchesi — if he doesn’t get trade to Boston for Mookie Betts.

Here is what the 2022 rotation could look like:

MacKenzie Gore

Chris Paddack

Luis Patino

Dinelson Lamet

Ryan Weathers

Really not much change here, but I think this could be the year we see Ryan Weathers reach his potential and become a constant figure in the rotation.

Adrian Morejon, Anderson Espinoza, Cal Quantrill, and a host of other prospects I’m sure I’m forgetting could all figure into the back of the rotation.

But I feel pretty confident those top three or four will be in the rotation for years to come.