Padres’ Wild Card sweep rescues rotation for Brewers NLDS matchup

Revenge got the champagne flowing last night. The Padres had every right to enjoy sending the Cubs home one year after Chicago ended their season at Wrigley Field. San Diego led after 17 of the 18 innings played at Petco Park and outscored Chicago 12-1. It was a real beatdown, and a nice way to make up for getting demolished by the Cubs earlier in the season.

However, they can’t rest for long with Milwaukee around the corner. By finishing the Wild Card Series in two games, the Padres bought some precious currency: time and choice. Nobody had to start Game 3. So they’ll get an extra day of rest and take a longer look at their gameplan for the next series.

Michael King gives the Padres an actual series plan

Michael King’ seven scoreless innings protected the bullpen Tuesday, allowing Stammen to unleash Bradgley Rodriguez, Jason Adam, Adrian Morejon and Mason Miller for the final 5 2/3 innings Wednesday. Meaning King essentially helped win both games.

He can now start NLDS Game 2 on normal rest. So the rotation must find a way through Saturday, then hand the ball to the best starter on the staff Sunday.

That alignment matters against a Milwaukee team that won 103 games and will open the series with Jacob Misiorowski, the nastiest starting pitcher in baseball this season. The Padres were never going to win the Game 1 pitching matchup on paper. Having King ready for Game 2 guarantees the Padres a legitimate answer before the series returns to Petco Park.

If Chicago had forced Game 3, that clean runway would have disappeared. King still would have been unavailable Thursday, somebody else would have absorbed those innings and the bullpen would have taken another hit. Even a Padres victory could have left them arriving in Milwaukee with a pitching staff that had just exhausted itself.

Craig Stammen finally has choices for NLDS Game 1

The Game 1 options are imperfect. But at least they are options. Buehler appears to be the most conventional choice. He posted a 3.62 ERA during the second half, and the Padres won 10 of his 13 starts over that stretch. He also has postseason experience and knows what it’s like in a hostile ballpark.

Ray gives Stammen a left-handed alternative. A bullpen game or another matchup-based arrangement remains possible. Whichever starter doesn’t get the ball could provide length behind the one who does.

Stammen just needs enough competent outs to reach the portion of the game controlled by Rodriguez, Adam, Morejon and Miller. Those relievers will have two full days to recover after smothering Chicago’s lineup in the clincher.

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