San Diego Padres Simulated Season Week 8: Rotation Looking Sharp

It was another solid week for the San Diego Padres in week eight with a series split and a series win to remain in the playoff picture.

As the league and the players continue to work out when we could see actual baseball in 2020, we continue our simulated season on MLB The Show with the San Diego Padres.

The good guys managed to split a four-game series on the road this week against the Cincinnati Reds before getting a big series win at home over the Arizona Diamondbacks who are right on their heels in the NL West.

Wil Myers and Juan Lagares both had a 3-hit game in a 14-4 route over the Reds to open up that series.

Fernando Tatis Jr. went off against the Reds in the third game of that series with 3 hits, 1 home run, and 2 RBI in a 4-1 win. Joey Lucchesi picked up the win with another solid start.

Eric Hosmer drove in 3 runs on 3 hits in a 4-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Dinelson Lamet gave up just 1 earned run on 4 hits and 3 walks over 6.1 innings with 8 strikeouts in a series-clinching win over the Diamondbacks.

San Diego is now just five games back on the Dodgers in the NL West, while they remain in the top NL Wild Card spot with the Diamondbacks 2.5 games back of them.

As a team, the Padres are hitting .254 (four points higher than last week) with a 3.57 ERA (one point lower than last week), so they appear to be going in the right direction in both categories.

Individual Performances

Tatis continues to be an absolute beast for the Padres leading the team in runs (38), hits (61), home runs (17), RBI (51), average (.311), OBP (.364), slugging (.673), and OPS (1.038).

In a lot of those categories, you’ll be surprised to know that Myers is right behind Tatis. The Padres’ outfielder leads the team with 18 doubles, is tied for second with 30 runs, is second with 60 hits, is fourth with 9 home runs, is second with 34 RBI, is fourth on the team in average (.291), OBP (.351), SLG (.519), and OPS (.871 — tied for third on the team).

I think most of us would gladly take that type of 2020 season from Myers.

Hosmer is right up there as well slashing .302/.333/.541 with 8 home runs.

The starting rotation is really starting to come together with Joey Lucchesi and Chris Paddack heating up. They both have an ERA under 4.50, which is saying something considering where they were just a few weeks ago.

Garrett Richards and Zach Davies each have an ERA under 3.35 to lead the staff.

Despite his good start in week eight, Lamet now remains the only starter with an ERA over five and it might be time to give MacKenzie Gore a shot pretty soon.

As I say every week, I hope we have real baseball back soon. But until then, we’ll continue to keep you updated on our simulated season.