Chris Paddack Named Opening Day Starter
San Diego Padres starting pitcher Chris Paddack. (Photo:©K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
The long-awaited start of the 2020 Major League Baseball season is set for later this week. The San Diego Padres will open up with a four-game home series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night.
Earlier today, Padres Manager Jayce Tingler announced the starting pitchers for the first three games, with the Opening Day nod going to Chris Paddack. In his second season in the big leagues, Paddack will lead a pitching staff with tremendous upside and many unanswered questions.
Dinelson Lamet and Garrett Richards will follow Paddack the first time through the rotation. Both Lamet and Richards are looking for strong campaigns during this abbreviated season after Tommy John surgery put both of their promising careers on hold during a majority of the last two seasons.
The fourth and fifth starters have not yet been announced. Zach Davies, Joey Lucchesi, and Cal Quantrill are in a group battling for the final two spots in the rotation. Super-prospect MacKenzie Gore figures to be a long shot to start the season in the Padres starting rotation.