Starting pitching prospects 1-2 years away
Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
The big wave of young starting pitchers is at least a year or two away.
Michael Kelly just advanced to Triple-A El Paso last week.
Left-handers Eric Lauer and Joey Lucchesi from the 2016 draft were impressive in their debuts with Double-A San Antonio over the last week.
Left-hander Logan Allen advanced to Advanced Single-A Lake Elsinore where he joins the likes of Cal Quantrill and Jacob Nix.
And young Cubans Adrian Morejon and Michel Baez were each impressive in July 4 starts.
Which brings us to the two younger starters already with the Padres -- 24-year-olds Luis Perdomo and Dinelson Lamet. Both have strung together a series of strong starts as the All-Star break approaches.
Since June 12, the Padres are 7-1 when Perdomo and Lamet -- both natives of the Dominican Republic -- start. They have a combined 2.81 earned-run average during the run.
Perdomo won his career-best, third straight decision Wednesday night in Cleveland. Over his last five starts, Perdomo is 5-1 and has allowed 10 runs on 33 hits and 11 walks with 22 strikeouts in 29 innings. That's a 3.10 ERA. Over his last five starts, Perdomo's ERA has fallen from 5.47 to 4.54.
Lamet goes into Thursday night's start in Cleveland with three straight strong performances. He has allowed six runs (five earned) on 11 hits and two walks with 25 strikeouts in 19 innings. He has a 2.37 ERA over the three starts, which has lowered his season ERA from 8.50 to 5.35.
The Padres are 12-10 in starts made this season by Lamet (5-2) and Perdomo (7-8).
NOTE WORTHY:
--The Padres have taken the season series from each of last fall's World Series contestants. The Padres went 4-2 against the World Series champion Chicago Cubs, including a three-game sweep at Petco Park. The Padres are 2-0 against the American League champion Indians going into Thursday night's series finale.
--The Padres are 21-18 since their 15-30 start to the season. They currently have a three-game winning streak against the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers and Indians. Overall, the Padres have won eight of their last 12 games. A win Thursday would give the Padres their third series sweep of the season.
--LF Jose Pirela was 3-for-5 Wednesday. It was his third three-hit game since he was promoted from Triple-A El Paso on June 6. Pirela has hit safely in eight of his last 10 games, going 11-for-41 with six doubles, Wednesday's first triple of the season, four RBIs and four runs scored. Since he joined the Padres, Pirela's 15 extra-base hits lead the team. Wednesday's game pushed Pirela's batting average back above .300 for the first time since June 27.