My Pre-Spring Training/Opening Day Starting Rotation

Spring Training is a little more than a month away, but just for the fun of it, I decided to fill-out the Padres’ starting rotation. I thumbed through the Padres’ pitching roster and decided who I would like to see 1-5.

There are a few surprises and some obvious choices, if you don’t agree with my starting rotation, post your rotation at the comment box below. I am interested to see how your rotation stacks up against mine.

Here is my pre-Spring Training/Opening Day starting rotation:

Edinson Volquez – Vólquez was the staff ace last year and I see him continuing in that role in 2013. He’s the only power pitcher in the rotation, leading the team in strikeouts last season with 174 while he averaged 8.57 SO/9.

On the flip side, Volquez tends to get wild, as he tied for the league lead in walks with 105 in 2012.  Volquez enters 2013 in his contact year, thus I am expecting a big year from the animated Dominican pitcher.

Jason Marquis – Marquis is my No.2 man in the Padres’ rotation. The veteran right-hander was injured toward the end of 2012, but when he was healthy, he was a gamer.  He is  that innings eater the Padres soooooo desperately need.

With Volquez being a power pitcher, opposing hitters will be on their toes when facing Marquis because he is a ground ball pitcher.  Marquis held the opposition to a .258 batting average last season.

Oct 1, 2012; Milwaukee, WI, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Clayton Richard (33) pitches against the Milwaukee Brewers in the first inning at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Clayton Richard– The 6’5, 245-pound pitcher is a left-handed starter in the Padres rotation. Richard topped the team last season in wins with 14. I slotted Richard as a No. 3 starter because he definitely isn’t an ace, but is too inconsistent to be a No.2 starter. Plus, it is always good to have a left-hander going on the last day of the series.

Richard is another innings eater, as he pitched in a team-high 218 2/3 innings.

I would like to see him reduce the amount of home runs allowed to the opposition. In 2012 he was in the top 10 in the Majors in the most home runs allowed statistical category with 31.

Eric Stults–  Stults practically resurrected his career last year. The journeyman found new life with the Padres going 8-3 with a 2.92 ERA. Because of his solid 2012 season he deserves to be in the Padres’ rotation in 2013. I have him as a No.4 starter, having Stults follow Richard gives the Padres back-to-back lefties in the rotation.

Tyson Ross– He is a long shot, but I see Ross beating out  Casey Kelly, Robbie Erlin, and Anthony Bass for the final rotation spot. This kid is full of potential. He had a rough time in Oakland but the change in scenery will work out to his advantage. For added motivation, his younger brother, Joe, is a top prospect in the Padres organization.

This is my pre-Spring Training/Opening Day starting rotation. Let me know in the comment box below what you think of it.

Statistics Courtesy of: Baseball Reference