With Opening Day approaching, here are 6 questions for Padres

PEORIA, Ariz. — With solely two weeks till Opening Day, there’s nonetheless an terrible lot to be sorted out in Padres camp.

Sure, the roster is loaded and, for probably the most half, wholesome. But some crucial questions should be resolved earlier than March 30. Here are six of them:

1. Drew Pomeranz‘s race in opposition to the clock
The veteran left-hander has confronted hitters a number of occasions already, and he appeared in a simulated sport on the Peoria Sports Complex on Thursday. Pomeranz’s subsequent step can be his Cactus League debut.

After lacking the complete 2022 season following flexor tendon surgical procedure, Pomeranz may give the Padres’ bullpen an enormous enhance. But he has been eased alongside slowly this spring, with the group prioritizing his long-term well being over his Opening Day roster standing.

But do not rule it out. Pomeranz has made it clear that Opening Day is his purpose, and he may want solely a few Cactus League outings to be prepared for it.

2. Speaking of Opening Day … what about Yu Darvish?
Darvish pitched two innings of aid in Team Japan’s 9-3 quarterfinal victory over Italy within the World Baseball Classic on Thursday. On the one hand, that’s undeniably cool: Darvish doing no matter it takes to get his nation again to Classic glory. But on the Padres’ facet of issues, it throws Darvish’s spring development barely out of whack.

On Thursday, supervisor Bob Melvin acknowledged that, relying on when Darvish pitches subsequent, he may not be totally constructed up innings-wise for a possible Opening Day begin. Darvish may nonetheless make that begin with a restricted pitch rely. Or the Padres may bump Darvish off the Opening Day observe, getting him a full Cactus League begin on March 26 or 27, which may line him as much as begin the second or third sport of the common season. Stay tuned.

3. Replacing Joe Musgrove
The Darvish query may need been moot if Musgrove have been wholesome. Musgrove may have slotted seamlessly into the Opening Day job. But as an alternative, he’s working his manner again from a fractured left huge toe.

The Padres, for what it’s price, are blown away by the progress Musgrove has made, with Melvin calling it “miraculous.” Musgrove is already throwing bullpen periods, and his stint on the injured checklist is more likely to be a lot shorter than anticipated.

But the Padres nonetheless envision Musgrove starting the season on the IL. Do they substitute him by pivoting from a six-man rotation to 5? Or do they entrust somebody like Jay Groome with a beginning position?

4. Filling out the pitching workers
Ten spots on the workers are safe, leaving three vacancies. One of these may be crammed by Pomeranz, however with questions on Darvish’s size and the again finish of the rotation, the Padres must be sure of what they’re getting with him.

It as soon as appeared unlikely the Padres would carry 5 unique outfielders. But Azocar and Dahl have impressed this spring. (Melvin famous that the flexibility of Ha-Seong Kim, Jake Cronenworth and Matt Carpenter ensures that each backup infield spot can be lined.)

“It would make it easier if one was an infielder, one was an outfielder, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be,” Melvin stated. “… It’s what we feel like is going to give us our most versatility, and obviously, someone’s going to have to play well enough to make the team.”

6. Who’s in proper?
Once the bench is settled, the Padres have a associated query: Who performs proper area whereas Fernando Tatis Jr. serves the remaining 20 video games on his PED suspension?

There’s no singular reply, with a platoon anticipated. Dahl is smart for a roster spot as a left-handed bat. Azocar and Adam Engel, in the meantime, are righty-hitting choices. All three are glorious defensively.

Dixon is an choice as nicely. Carpenter may play proper in a pinch. Odor has stated he’d be open to experimenting within the outfield. Preston Tucker has had a sneaky good spring.

Indeed, there’s loads to type by over the subsequent two weeks.