Padres need Jason Adam to ease burden on taxed bullpen during postseason push

The Padres have punched their postseason ticket. Over their next two games they’ll need to make sure the bullpen that dragged them there still has some gas. That makes Jason Adam’s return bigger than the late-September activation. Adrián Morejón, Mason Miller and Bradgley Rodríguez have spent most of the season cleaning up short starts and protecting narrow leads, and that workload is really imposing its interest.

Earlier in September, the Padres ranked third in the majors in bullpen innings. Rodríguez provided the most obvious warning. His four-seam fastball and sinker dropped roughly two mph over two appearances, prompting the Padres to give him four consecutive days without pitching. He returned throwing close to 100 mph. That solved the mystery. The dude just needed a breather.

Morejón’s workload should raise an even louder alarm. Through Sept. 24, he had thrown 85 innings across 75 appearances, blowing past his previous career high. Miller was already at 69 innings, four beyond his former high.

The Padres cannot keep riding Adrián Morejón and Mason Miller

Adam gives manager Craig Stammen a practical answer. Before a shoulder strain sidelined him for nearly three months, the veteran right-hander owned a 2.51 ERA in 36 appearances. He can handle the sixth inning when a starter leaves early. He can take the seventh when Morejón has worked twice in three days. He can bridge a close game to Miller while allowing Rodríguez to spend an entire night sitting down.

Adam’s rehab results were uninspiring. He allowed nine runs while recording one out across his final two appearances with Triple-A El Paso, and his strikeout rate had already declined before the injury. 

We saw exactly where Adam stands Friday night. Entering the seventh with the Padres trailing Arizona 10-2, he walked the first two batters, hit the third and threw only 13 of 27 pitches for strikes. Then he induced a double play and a flyout, escaping without allowing a hit, but one run scored.

The command was rusty, but the inning served a purpose. Adam faced major-league hitters, worked through traffic and covered three outs without forcing Morejón, Miller or Rodríguez into an 11-4 loss. Every out Adam handles gives one of San Diego’s taxed leverage arms another chance to sit.

Adam doesn't have to return as an instant shutdown setup man. He needs to give Stammen legitimate innings, buy rest for the relievers who carried the club and make the bullpen whole again.

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