The San Diego Padres are entering 2022 with something to prove after an epic late-season collapse derailed them in 2021, causing them to finish 79-83, well out of postseason contention.
Fortunately for them, they’ve got some star power and some solid starting pitching that should give them a boost and help them take steps back towards respectability this season.
And on Opening Day, they’ll have one of the best in the business, Yu Darvish, beginning their journey towards redemption as they look to bounce back into the NL West division race with the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers.
The 35-year-old right-hander from Japan went 8-11 in 2021 and posted a 4.22 ERA.
We got Yu.@faridyu • #OpeningDay pic.twitter.com/UsIlzWEvDF
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) March 31, 2022
Padres Look To Bounce Back
While Darvish didn’t have the best 2021 season, he still is a steady force in any starting rotation.
He’s a veteran presence who knows how to lead a pitching staff.
San Diego will open up on the road against the Arizona Diamondbacks and Darvish will likely pitch opposite Zac Gallen or Madison Bumgarner.
Darvish, who started Opening Day for the Padres last season, has a career 3.56 ERA and will slot into a strong rotation that features Blake Snell, Mike Clevinger, and San Diego native Joe Musgrove.
The Padres rotation looks to be the strength of their team in 2022 and will be the X-factor for them.
It was injuries to the pitching staff that contributed to the Padres’ downfall in 2021, but with everyone back and healthy, the starting rotation looks to be strong and among the best in all of baseball.
We’ll see if they can stay healthy and lead San Diego back to the postseason this year.
If all goes according to plan, then the Padres have a chance to be a strong playoff contender.
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