Padres News: More injuries as Chris Paddack hits the IL

At just three games above .500 heading into Monday’s matchup with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the San Diego Padres likely aren’t satisfied with how the first month of the season has gone. But given the bevy of injuries the club has battled through, things could be far, far worse.

The latest on the injury front? Right-hander Chris Paddack is headed to the IL for an undisclosed ailment which, in all likelihood, means a positive COVID-19 test. That’s now four Padres starters sidelined, including Dinelson Lamet, Ryan Weathers and Adrian Morejon, whose season was ended due to Tommy John surgery.

Both Lamet and Weathers appear to be on the mend – which would give this San Diego rotation some much-needed reinforcements – hopefully, as soon as this week.

"“Both guys are progressing and seem to be doing better each day, but we haven’t set a timetable or we don’t have a date for them to start,” Tingler told MLB.com. “So I would have to call both guys day to day.”"

Lamet has made just one appearance this year, lasting only two innings before departing. Weathers has been a key piece to the puzzle early, filling in for Lamet before leaving his last start with fatigue and ‘dead arm’. But now with Paddack out, the team’s high-performing starting rotation will ask yet another new face to step up.

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Right-hander Miguel Diaz saw his contract selected from the alternate site and he’ll get the start against the Bucs at Petco Park in the opener. He’s never really lived up to the hype that once surrounded him, evidenced by an ERA north of 6.60 in his big league career.

Pitching-wise, the Padres have been dominant as a team

Until Weathers and Lamet return, it’ll be a mix of Joe Musgrove, Yu Darvish, Blake Snell, Diaz and ole’ Johnny Wholestaff. The mixing and matching hasn’t slowed down this staff, though. Both the team’s starters and relievers have been downright superb this season.

As a team, the Padres boast the best ERA in the league at 2.91. The team’s starters check in at 2.87 while the relief corps have registered an equally impressive 2.95 mark. Musgrove and Darvish have anchored the rotation while closer Mark Melancon looks poised to make history of his own in the ninth inning.

Everybody has played their role and answered the call as needed. With Paddack sidelined, once again, it’s a next man up situation – and the Friars are looking for that ‘next man’.