Good Morning San Diego: Padres offense continues to sputter; Starting pitching problems becoming reality

The San Diego Padres entered the 2026 season knowing the back of their starting rotation was not going to intimidate even the worst of lineups and the San Francisco Giants have proven that taking the first two games of their series at Petco Park by combined scores of 12-5. The Giants entered the series with the Padres having scored one run in a three-game sweep at the hands of the New York Yankees, but they have feasted on the back end of the Padres rotation.

Walker Buehler lasted four innings in his start allowing three runs, while German Marquez followed and lasted three innings allowing four runs. The No. 4 and No. 5 starters for San Diego combined to allow seven runs over seven innings, while allowing 13 hits with three walks and four strikeouts. While the pitching has not been up to the task of controlling the San Francisco lineup, the San Diego offense has done little to ease some of the burden on the rotation. Over the same two games, the Padres have a combined five runs scored and nine hits.

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It’s early, sure, but that was the mantra for much of the 2023 season and the best lineup that has taken the field at Petco Park failed to make the playoffs. The return of starter Joe Musgrove and the Padres debut of Griffin Canning are not just anticipated, they are NEEDED to try to make this rotation more formidable, but the San Diego bats will have to do something to breakout out of the lackluster start they have had to the season thus far.

Padres News:

• Jason Adam is building up to a return to the MLB club and will make some minor league appearances with the San Antonio Missions in hopes that he can clear the final hurdles to get back on the mound at Petco Park.

• Thomas Conroy of Gaslamp Ball reminds fans to take a breath before getting too worked up about the sweep at the hands of the Detroit Tigers to open the season. Based on the first two games of the second series of the season, he may be writing something similar next week after the San Francisco Giants leave town.

Baseball News:

• Shohei Ohtani made his first start for the Los Angeles Dodgers and pitched six scoreless innings and helped the Dodgers earn a 4-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians.

• Oneil Cruz has struggled in the field, but he showed his value at the plate on Tuesday. Cruz slugged two home runs in support of starter Bubba Chandler.