Apr 23, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers third baseman Andy Ibanez (77) steals second ahead of the throw to San Diego Padres second baseman Jose Iglesias (7) in the sixth inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
San Diego, California – For the first time since April 6, the San Diego Padres no longer sit atop the major league standings. A 2-4 road trip through Houston and Detroit — during which they scored just 15 total runs — has them momentarily dethroned, but considering the circumstances, it’s hard to fault the effort.
Five key position players, including three starters, are on the injured list. Among them is star first baseman Luis Arraez, sidelined with a concussion after a collision with Houston’s Mauricio Dubón. While early signs suggest Arraez avoided a worst-case scenario, he remains out until at least Tuesday. Center fielder Jackson Merrill and outfielder Brandon Lockridge, both nursing hamstring strains, may return in early May. Jake Cronenworth (rib fracture) and Jason Heyward (knee inflammation) also progress slowly.
Despite the depleted roster, San Diego already has 17 wins in April. And while the offense has leaned heavily on NL MVP candidate Fernando Tatis Jr. — responsible for 10 of the team’s 15 runs on the recent trip — the real story may be the pitching, especially that of Nick Pivetta.
Pivetta has been dominant through his first five starts, logging a 1.20 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 30 innings. On Tuesday, he tossed seven scoreless frames in a historic shutout win against the Tigers, tying the franchise record with seven shutouts in the season’s first 24 games — a mark not reached since the 1992 Braves. The right-hander’s early-season success stems from subtle changes: a new spot on the rubber, a two-seamer added to his arsenal, and continued mastery of his sweeping breaking ball and high-riding fastball. Signed in the offseason to a four-year, $55 million deal, Pivetta is proving to be a bargain.
The offense, though limited, has found surprise value in outfielder Gavin Sheets. Despite a rough pair of games, Sheets leads the majors in line-drive rate (52%) and has shown major gains in hard-hit and sweet-spot percentages. A .309 batting average and three home runs have followed. His offseason mechanical adjustments, including a taller stance and better posture through the ball, are paying dividends.
With five games left in April and the Giants coming to town for a pivotal NL West matchup, the Padres hope reinforcements arrive soon. Until then, every win matters — and if the roster isn’t at full strength by July, expect A.J. Preller to make moves. Just don’t expect him to deal with 18-year-old phenom Leo De Vries, who just hit for the cycle in High A.
