Paddack has allowed only one run across seven innings through three Cactus League starts, yielding five hits and one walk while striking out five.

EDGE Analysis

Paddack had a down season in 2020 and has slid down near the back end of the rotation with the offseason acquisitions of Yu Darvish, Blake Snell and Joe Musgrove. However, Paddack remains an important part of the Padres' rotation and appears to be back on his game this spring. He could be a value pick in fantasy drafts if he's able to approach the numbers he posted during his magical 2019 rookie campaign.

Paddack worked two scoreless innings Monday in the Padres' 1-0 loss to the Cubs in Cactus League play. He gave up no hits and one walk while striking out three.

EDGE Analysis

After a rocky 2020 season, Paddack appeared to recapture his impressive 2019 rookie form in his spring debut. He allowed only one baserunner on the afternoon and had his changeup working, inducing swinging strikeouts from Anthony Rizzo and David Bote with that offering. The changeup should remain Paddack's top weapon in 2021, but he'll need to find more success with his four-seamer to deliver a bounce-back season. He spent much of the offseason refining his fastball mechanics, and the initial returns were encouraging. His other strikeout on the day came when Javier Baez swung and missed at a two-strike heater.

Paddack has been focusing on the mechanics of his delivery in an attempt to improve his fastball command, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

After a strong rookie campaign in 2019, Paddack struggled with a 4.73 ERA in 2020 due largely to a four-seamer that opponents combined to hit .308 against. By contrast, hitters batted only .187 against Paddack's changeup, so improving his fastball command could be the key to a return to form for the 25-year-old. The right-hander is also working on his curveball and cutter, which he threw only 10.8 percent of the time combined last season. Paddack should open the campaign in the Padres' rotation, but he'll likely need to show more effectiveness than he did last season to remain in that role given the number of available starting options lined up behind him.

Paddack took the loss to the Cardinals on Wednesday in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series. He gave up six runs on eight hits while striking out one batter without a walk in 2.1 innings.

EDGE Analysis

Paddack's fastball was a problem throughout the regular season, and while he had decent velocity Wednesday, the Cardinals had no trouble squaring up the pitch. Three of the four base-scoring hits against Paddack were off 94-mph offerings. He has taken a dramatic step backward after his stellar 2019 debut and will make for an interesting fantasy wild card in 2021.

Paddack will start Wednesday in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Cardinals, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 24-year-old previously wasn't guaranteed to be included on the roster since it's only a three-game series, but he'll end up starting the postseason opener with Dinelson Lamet (biceps) and Mike Clevinger (elbow) banged up. Paddack had his share of troubles this season with a 4.73 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 58:12 K:BB over 59 innings, and he surrendered five runs on three homers during his final regular-season start last week.

According to Padres manager Jayce Tingler, Paddack will "absolutely" be on the roster for the upcoming wild-card series, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

There had been some doubt about Paddack's inclusion on the roster given the brevity of the three-game series and the right-hander's disappointing performance this season. However, the uncertain availability of starters Mike Clevinger (elbow) and Dinelson Lamet (biceps) could force Paddack into a larger role than previously anticipated. If he isn't needed in a starting role, Paddack could also come out of the bullpen, though he has yet to do so in his career, compared to 38 major-league starts.

Paddack (4-5) allowed five runs on eight hits -- including three home runs -- and one walk while striking out three across 3.2 innings to take the loss against the Giants on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Paddack gave up a solo home run to Brandon Crawford in the second inning, but it was in the fourth when he really fell apart. The 24-year-old allowed a solo home run and a double to kick off the inning before inducing back-to-back groundouts. The Giants then put up three more runs with two outs as Joey Bart singled home Evan Longoria and Mike Yastrzemski sent a towering shot into the water to put his team up 5-1. It's been an up-and-down year for Paddack, who will head into the postseason with a 4.73 ERA and a 58:12 K:BB across 59 innings.

Paddack (4-4) picked up the win Friday after holding the Mariners scoreless with three strikeouts across six innings. He allowed two walks and one hit.

EDGE Analysis

Paddack, who was lifted after two innings during last Friday's start because of a right ankle sprain, seemed to have made a full recovery thanks to a few extra days of rest. The 24-year-old was in dominant form, blanking the Mariners across six innings while allowing only a single to Evan White in the third frame. It was his fifth quality start of the year and the third time this season that he did not allow a run. With the win, Paddack improves to a 4.23 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. He'll take the mound again Wednesday against the Angels.

Paddack (ankle) will start Friday's game against the Dodgers, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 24-year-old was lifted from last Friday's start after two innings due to a right ankle sprain, but he'll be ready to retake the mound a week later after receiving a couple extra days of rest. Paddack has a 4-3 record with a 4.74 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 52:9 K:BB through 49.1 innings this season.

Paddack (ankle) completed a bullpen session Monday and appears on track to start either Wednesday in San Diego against the Dodgers or Friday against the Mariners in Seattle, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Paddack was removed from his previous start Sept. 11 after two innings due to a sprained right ankle, but the Padres don't seem overly concerned about the injury. Thanks to an off day Thursday to go along with a bullpen that hasn't been overtaxed during the team's seven-game winning streak, the Padres would have the luxury of taking a cautious approach with Paddack and waiting until Friday to use him. If manager Jayce Tingler decides to go that route, the Padres could treat Wednesday as a bullpen game, with former rotation member Joey Lucchesi being the top candidate to eat most of the innings.