San Diego Padres: Predictions, comparisons for Chris Paddack and Dinelson Lamet

Chris Paddack and Dinelson Lamet will headline the San Diego Padres rotation this season. But who will have the better year?

Both Chris Paddack and Dinelson Lamet were never part of the San Diego Padres plans but were openly welcomed as the former was an eighth-round draft pick of the Miami Marlins in the 2015 MLB Draft. He came over to the Friars in the Fernando Rodney deal in June 2016, and not a month after being traded, Paddack was diagnosed with a torn UCL. He needed Tommy John surgery, and his season was done.

Likewise, Lamet was originally signed by the Philadelphia Phillies as an international free agent in 2012, but an error in his paperwork allowed the Padres to swoop in a sign him two years later. He made his major league debut on May 25, 2017, and was named the Opening Day starter for the 2018 season. However, he, too, tore his UCL and required surgery.

Paddack pitched his first full season in the big leagues last year and posted a 3.33 ERA in 26 starts. He struck out 153 batters in 140.2 innings and made his final start on September 17 due to workload restrictions. Lamet returned to the mound on July 4 last year, making 14 starts to close out the year, and posted a 4.07 ERA while striking out 105 batters in 73.0 innings.

Now pegged as being dark horses for the Cy Young Award, the duo is undoubtedly going to make for an outstanding 1-2 combination at the top of the rotation. Both players will look to remain healthy in what figures to be a solid Padres’ rotation overall, but let’s try to predict who might have the better year.

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table