It’s shaping up to be a thrilling NLDS showdown! The Padres are facing off against their long-time rivals, the Dodgers, but here’s the kicker: they might have to do it without their ace, who’s been nothing short of stellar for the last couple of months. The Padres have had some serious momentum lately, but losing their top pitcher could really shake things up. Joe Musgrove has been such a key player for them, especially as they gear up to face the Dodgers.  

His early exit from the Wild Card victory against the Braves definitely raises some red flags. Elbow tightness is never a good sign, especially given his history this season. As he heads for more tests, there’s a palpable sense of uncertainty. If this turns out to be serious, it could really impact the Padres’ strategy moving forward. Do you think the Padres have what it takes to rise to the occasion, even if they lose Musgrove? 

Joe Musgrove highlights the uncertainty of the situation

It is sad to consider that his season might end early, as he was playing at the highest level when he returned from the injured list and recorded a 2.15 ERA in nine starts. He expressed his unhappiness by saying, “I’m frustrated, I don’t know what the future looks like for me right now. But I know I’m going to give it every chance I have, and I’ll do whatever I’ve got to do to get back in there at some point” according to MLB.com. Following their thrilling two-game sweep of the Braves in the Wild Card Series, the Padres are on a high. The club benefited greatly from Musgrove’s start in that thrilling 5-4 victory, but there was undoubtedly some concern about his future during the post-game festivities.

The Padres need to make a swift adjustment as they get ready to play the Dodgers. The 31-year-old appeared to be in control, but it seemed like he was dealing with some discomfort from the beginning. It’s not easy to go 3 2/3 innings against a strong lineup like Atlanta and only allow one hit and one run, but the fact that he mentioned feeling off raises additional questions. According to Statcast tracking, those two curveballs to Matt Olson were the slowest the #44 has ever thrown, which further emphasizes the fact that something was wrong. In light of everything above, how do you believe the Padres should proceed with their rotation going forward? They’ll need to strategize carefully if they’re going to keep up the momentum in the NLDS.

Possible changes in Padres bullpen strategy

This season, the Padres’ rotation has undoubtedly had difficulties. Yu Darvish and Musgrove have both missed a substantial amount of time because of injuries and other problems. Though it has been a wild ride, they appeared to be in decent shape going into the postseason—that is, until the pitcher for the San Diego Padres’ most recent setback. With Darvish not even making the roster and Martín Pérez not even being included in the rotation for the Wild Card Series. Both pitchers could need to step up big-time if Musgrove can’t go. 

Regarding their rotation of pitchers for the NLDS, it appears that the Padres have some room. They can carefully consider their strategy because they won’t need a starter until later in Game 4. Dylan Cease appears to be a good pick to start the first game of the Dodgers series on the mound. Cease was scheduled to throw in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series. There’s some fascinating depth added by having Michael King and Yu Darvish scheduled for Games 2 and 3. Darvish will be essential to maintaining the momentum if he can get back to his old form. King has also displayed moments of brilliance, and if he steps up, he might transform the game.

This rotation strategy might allow the Padres to manage their pitchers’ workloads while still keeping pressure on L.A.  Without a doubt, the Padres will have some interesting options to think about if they advance to a Game 4. With one of baseball’s best bullpens, the Padres could certainly rely on a mix-and-match strategy. By depending on their relievers to work as a unit, they could reduce the possibility that any one of their starters will falter under duress. You know that anything is possible in October! Do you believe going with this bullpen approach may give them an edge against a tough Dodgers lineup? Let us know below.