SAN DIEGO -- The first and second halves of the Padres' schedule are demonstrably different this season. As you'd expect, their pitching plans for those two halves will be as well.
San Diego plays 30 games in 31 days to open its season, a stretch that concludes Sunday against Houston at Petco Park. After that? The Padres have 30 games in 35 days to finish the regular season (including three off-days in the last 11 days).
After five trips through the rotation, the No. 5 spot has been a revolving door for the Padres. Joey Lucchesi started twice, then was sent to the team's alternate training site. Luis Perdomo, Cal Quantrill and Adrian Morejon have all started on bullpen days. Sunday's outing is up for grabs, too.
But the Padres don't seem concerned about the vacancy in their No. 5 spot, because they won't need to fill it much during the second half of the year.
"We'll probably consider that," manager Jayce Tingler said of a potential four-man rotation down the stretch. "Right now, our eyes are set on these next five, knowing that we have some of the built-in off-days for the final 30 games. We've definitely had some of those discussions, and we're completely open-minded to that."
If the Padres downsize to a four-man rotation, the usual suspects would presumably fill it out. They're currently lined up with Chris Paddack, Dinelson Lamet, Garrett Richards and Zach Davies. Their lightened workloads in a 60-game regular season make it possible.
The most notable benefit would be freeing up Quantrill, who has been excellent in every role. He picked up his first career save on Tuesday, lowering his ERA to 2.84, after starting Saturday's game and pitching 3 2/3 innings.
If Quantrill was available for everyday use -- instead of being scheduled for certain days -- it could be a boon to a San Diego bullpen that entered play Wednesday ranked 26th in the Majors with a 6.08 ERA.
The same might also hold true for Morejon, who was brilliant in his season debut on Tuesday, holding Texas hitless for three innings. Morejon, the Padres' No. 7 prospect per MLB Pipeline, is viewed as a candidate to be stretched into a fifth starter when needed. But if he's not needed, the Padres think he could also be valuable in their 'pen.
Of course, injuries and performance change plans quickly, and Tingler cautioned about looking too far ahead.
"We need to finish this back end of these 17 strong, with the idea that we may have some pockets in the last 30 games where potentially we could go with a four-man rotation, move somebody to the bullpen and have some flexibility,” Tingler said.
Tingler wants focus on players
For the first time in his career -- as a player, coach, front-office member and now manager -- Tingler found himself earning national attention this week. In the wake of Fernando Tatis Jr.'s home run on a 3-0 count and Tingler's ensuing admonition of him for missing a sign, Tingler was asked what the spotlight has been like.
"Personally, it's been horrible," Tingler said.
Tingler offered that line in good spirits. But he clearly had a point to make.
"To me, it's a player's game, and I want the focus to be on those guys,” Tingler said. “I, or we as a coaching staff, we don't want any of the light -- the good, the bad or whatever. I want the focus, and I truly mean this, to be on these players. I believe we've got a special group of guys. We've got guys having great [years], good years. I want that to be the story."
Roster move
With a beleaguered bullpen, the Padres optioned outfielder Edward Olivares to their alternate training site at the University of San Diego on Wednesday and called up right-hander Michel Baez. In 24 appearances last season, Baez posted a 3.03 ERA, but he had an 11-percent walk rate.
"He's been in a pretty good rhythm," Tingler said. "... His fastball command has gotten better, his changeup has still been a good pitch for him and all the reports have been that he's been more consistent with his strikes."
Baez, San Diego's No. 8 prospect, was scheduled to throw multiple innings in an intrasquad game Wednesday before his callup, which means he's fresh and potentially available for three or four frames, Tingler said. But until Baez proves himself, he could be slated for mop-up duty.
The move leaves the Padres with only three primary outfielders on the active roster -- Trent Grisham, Wil Myers and Josh Naylor. But infielders Jurickson Profar, Jorge Mateo and perhaps even Greg Garcia are all capable of playing left field.
Minor trade
The Padres sent right-hander Jimmy Yacabonis to the Mariners on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations. Yacabonis impressed during Spring Training with 5 1/3 scoreless innings of two-hit ball, but he was left out of a crowded bullpen mix.
San Diego's 60-man player pool is now at 57.