Projecting Padres Playoff Rotation: Mike Shildt has some painful decisions to make

The San Diego Padres haven't locked up a playoff spot just yet, but things are looking good in America's Finest City. The Padres lead the NL Wild Card and are on track to host a playoff series at Petco Park once the calendar flips to October.

But Mike Shildt is going to have some difficult decisions to make when it comes to selecting who'll be part of the pitching staff. With four players for only three spots, how will the San Diego skipper fill out Padres playoff rotation?

Projecting Padres Playoff Rotation: Dylan Cease is a lock, but the other two spots are up for grabs

Depending on how quickly the Friars lock up a playoff spot may well determine how easily Shildt can set up the Padres playoff rotation. San Diego has a weekend series with the pathetic Chicago White Sox, and sweeping that would set them up well for the final two series against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks.

But if the Padres have their playoff position locked in and Shildt can set the rotation, obviously Dylan Cease will be his Game 1 starter. Cease currently lines up to start next week's series opener against the Dodgers and could be on the bump for the season finale against the D-backs. However, if San Diego has locked up a playoff spot, look for Shildt to move him out of that spot and toe the rubber for Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series.

Projecting Padres Playoff Rotation: Joe Musgrove, Yu Darvish & Michael King battling it out

But if Cease is your Game 1 starter, who gets the ball in Games 2 and (potentially) 3? It's a three-horse race between Joe Musgrove, Yu Darvish, and Michael King. All three have a legitimate argument, and it all depends how the weekend transpires.

Musgrove is a virtually lock. Since returning from the IL, the veteran right-hander is 3-1 in those seven starts with a 2.37 ERA and 42 punchouts in 37 innings pitched. Take out Musgrove's horrific Sept. 8 start against the San Francisco Giants in which he allowed six earned runs, he has allowed just four runs in those other six starts.

Darvish has only made three starts since returning from the restricted list, but he's beginning to turn the corner. King, however, has been one of the most consistent arms for San Diego after a tough start during the month of April. Over his last 23 starts, King is 10-6 with a 2.51 ERA and 2.52 FIP. It's going to be hard to keep King out of the rotation, but he has experience coming out of the bullpen.

Cease and Musgrove are all but guaranteed to be in the Padres playoff rotation, but deciding on that final spot is going to be a tough one for Shildt and the Padres coaching staff. Darvish probably gets the nod, but there's the case for King that cannot be ignored.

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