PEORIA, Ariz. -- The Padres used four starting pitchers to cover nine innings in their 3-2 loss to the Royals on Thursday at Surprise Stadium. That now means every member of San Diego’s rotation race has seen Cactus League action this spring.
A year ago, Padres starters combined to post a 5.09 ERA, the worst mark in the National League. But the organization is quietly confident that -- even without any offseason additions -- the rotation will get a boost from an infusion of youth, and it could be serviceable in 2019.
Here's a look at how things stand with each pitcher in the rotation race:
The favorites
Joey Lucchesi: The Padres best returning pitcher, Lucchesi is clearly at the top of the list of rotation candidates this spring, though manager Andy Green was quick to say he hasn't locked up a place. Lucchesi, who posted a 4.08 ERA with 145 strikeouts in 130 innings last season, was somewhat shaky in his Wednesday debut, walking consecutive hitters and allowing a run over two innings.
Eric Lauer: Green noted that Lauer and Lucchesi have a "leg up" on the competition for a rotation spot. "The expectation is that they rise up a step further and claim that," he added. But nothing's final. Lauer posted a 4.34 ERA with 100 strikeouts in 112 innings last season after his April debut. He worked two scoreless frames Thursday.
On the bubble
Robbie Erlin: Erlin likely has his roster spot locked up, but he's yet to secure a place in the starting rotation. A season ago, Erlin posted a 2.05 ERA from the 'pen and a 6.23 mark as a starter. He often had trouble as he navigated lineups a second and third time. Still, the Padres remain confident in Erlin's stuff, and he'll have every opportunity to win a rotation job this spring.
Matt Strahm: Like Erlin, Strahm is going to be on the roster, but it's just unclear how he'll be used. For Strahm, it's about handling a starter’s workload. The Padres didn't ask that of him last year, as he returned from knee surgery and posted a 2.05 ERA, having been used primarily out of the 'pen. But Strahm uses his four pitches pretty evenly and projects as a very capable starter. Plus, he's bulked up significantly during the offseason in efforts to prove himself durable.
Chris Paddack: There's serious buzz around Paddack in Padres camp. MLB Pipeline's No. 34 overall prospect, Paddack has wowed the club as much with his stuff as with his day-to-day work ethic. After Paddack's two-inning, four-K debut Tuesday, pitching coach Darren Balsley said, "That's the way a Major League pitcher is supposed to look." But there are limitations with Paddack, who threw only 90 innings last season and missed all of 2017 following Tommy John surgery. It’s unclear how the Padres plan to limit his innings -- and whether that would affect his Opening Day roster chances.
Work to do
Bryan Mitchell: Mitchell's strong finish to the 2018 season has set him up for a run at the '19 rotation. But the Padres have made it clear that he'll need to earn that place by performing this spring. Even during his four September starts in which he notched a 2.19 ERA, he posted only 5.5 K/9 and opposing hitters averaged an exit velocity over 90 mph. Mitchell worked a scoreless seventh and eighth against Kansas City on Thursday before walking in the winning run with two outs in the ninth.
Jacob Nix: Nix might be the most perplexing pitcher in this group. He doesn't miss many bats, generating just 4.5 K/9 in his big league debut last year. But sometimes he doesn't need to. When he was successful last season, Nix got by with weak contact and efficiency. There's no question Nix needs to hone his curveball into a putaway pitch this spring. But if he does, there could be a place in the rotation awaiting him.
Logan Allen: Everywhere he's pitched, Allen has posted gaudy numbers. Between Double-A and Triple-A, he notched a 2.54 ERA over 25 appearances in 2018. The big leagues are the obvious next step for the team's No. 8 overall prospect, and the 21-year-old Allen -- who arrived with Manuel Margot, Javier Guerra and Carlos Asuaje in the 2015 Craig Kimbrel trade -- is looking to force the Padres’ hand this spring. He was sharp over two scoreless frames Thursday.
Outside chance
Luis Perdomo: After a sporadically impressive 2016 debut, Perdomo has stalled over the past two seasons. He's had trouble with his command and his hard-hit rate has skyrocketed. If he can channel his late '16 form, Perdomo could find himself in the mix. But even then, the sinker-balling Perdomo might be best equipped as a long-relief man in the 'pen.
Cal Quantrill: Late in the 2018 season, Quantrill made some mechanical tweaks, and upon his promotion to Triple-A El Paso, he turned his year around. After his ERA skyrocketed to 5.22 at the end of July, Quantrill posted a 3.00 mark in his final eight starts, including six shutout frames in the postseason. If that progress continues, Quantrill will debut at some point in '19. But he got off to a rough start in the Cactus League, as he allowed two runs on four hits in two innings against Kansas City on Thursday.