Late July and August are often when the grind of the MLB season takes its toll, but for the San Diego Padres last year, it was their most successful stretch. The Padres caught fire, winning 19 of 22 games from July 20 to August 14, and finishing strong with a 24-13 run that helped them secure a Wild Card berth with 93 wins.
San Diego then swept the Atlanta Braves in the Wild Card round and pushed the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers to a decisive fifth game in the Division Series before being eliminated.
Heading into 2025, the Padres aim to reach the playoffs in consecutive seasons for just the second time since entering the National League in 1969, and the first time since the 2005-2006 seasons.
Friars Have Enjoyed Relatively Healthy Spring
The Padres are hoping to finally break through and capture their first World Series title, but history hasn’t been kind to them. San Diego has reached the Fall Classic twice—in 1984, when they won their only World Series game before losing to the Detroit Tigers in five, and again in 1998, when they were swept by a dominant Yankees squad.
The 2025 season has started with mostly positive health news for the Padres in Spring Training, outside of Joe Musgrove, who will miss the entire year following Tommy John surgery. However, they were dealt a major blow as top star was shut down indefinitely due to what manager Mike Shildt called “general fatigue.”
Darvish, 38, entering year three of his six-year, $108 million deal, was scratched from Tuesday’s start against the Giants. The Padres will now monitor him daily to determine when he can resume throwing, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Darvish Entering 20th Pro Baseball Season
The Padres’ cautious approach with Yu Darvish is understandable given his age and mileage. With 20 professional seasons under his belt between Japan and MLB, the veteran’s wear and tear is starting to show. After being hampered by injuries in 2024 and spending significant time away from the team for personal reasons, managing his workload in 2025 is clearly a priority.
Now, with Darvish sidelined indefinitely, San Diego finds itself with a rotation currently led by Michael King, Dylan Cease, and Nick Pivetta. Cease, however, remains a potential trade chip as rumors persist about the Padres’ desire to bolster other areas of the roster.
The lack of a clear fourth and fifth starter could force GM A.J. Preller to explore outside options or lean heavily on internal candidates from the farm system as Opening Day approaches.