Fans shouldn't panic after Padres' bullpen implosion, but changes need to come soon

The San Diego Padres got reminded on Thursday evening that baseball is a cruel, cruel sport. The Padres entered the ninth inning against the Tigers with a 3-0 lead with their normally stalwart closer, Robert Suarez, coming in needing just three outs to secure another win.

Usually, that means that game is locked up given the strength the Padres have shown late in games in 2024.

Unfortunately, that is not what happened at all. Suarez would let three of the first four batters he faced in the ninth reach base on a single and a pair of walks. Enter Detroit youngster Parker Meadows who drove what was a pretty good triple-digit fastball barely in the upper part of the zone the other way for a go-ahead grand slam.

Just like that, what appeared to be a cozy win turned into a brutal loss to the Tigers.

Sometimes you just have to tip your cap to the opposing hitter. However, what followed was a bit of unnecessary panic about the Padres' bullpen as well as some genuine concerns regarding how they should manage their relievers going forward.

Padres fans shouldn't panic about the bullpen, but Robert Suarez may need some rest down the stretch

No one feels good when the bullpen blows a lead late in a game. You feel like a game is sewn up with a three-run lead in the ninth and instead you have to watch a dumpster fire unfold in slow motion in front of you.

However, the Padres' bullpen that received a massive makeover at the deadline has been nails for months now. Sometimes it just isn't your night.

One lesson we can take from Thursday's debacle is that Robert Suarez isn't infallible. This isn't the first time we have seen him struggle lately, and in his last 13 appearances he has a 6.57 ERA in 12.1 innings of work. Now, those numbers are obviously inflated from giving up four runs against Detroit, but he clearly isn't at his best at the moment.

Suarez is too good to just abandon as the team's closer. What the Padres should do instead is give him some more rest down the stretch here. There is a lot at stake over the course of the final weeks to be sure, but the Padres added so many quality arms for their bullpen that they can afford to give some of those guys chances to close games out here and there. If nothing else, manager Mike Shildt needs to be more willing to yank him from when he clearly doesn't have it before the damage is done.

Suarez is a power pitcher that is already at a career high in appearances and innings this season and is showing signs, at least with his command, that he is gassed at the moment. Dialing back how often he is throwing in the regular season shouldn't cost the Padres much in the short-term and could pay massive dividends in October when San Diego will need him most.

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