Clayton Richard
SP FA
Wed 2/21/18 9:13 PM

Padres manager Andy Green said prior to spring training that Richard has a spot in the rotation locked up, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
EDGE Analysis
The San Diego organization isn't exactly teeming with high-quality, MLB-ready arms, so Richard's starting job was never in much question after he delivered a serviceable 2.3 WAR while eating 197.1 innings for the Padres a season ago. Though he profiles as a back-end starter or long man out of the bullpen for most contending clubs, Richard will masquerade as the Padres' ace to begin the season, at least until he's dealt elsewhere or one of the team's up-and-coming arms is ready to take the mantle. He should be valued as NL-only pitching staff filler or a streaming candidate in deeper mixed formats after going 8-15 with a 4.79 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 6.8 K/9 rate in his 32 starts a season ago.

Clayton Richard
SP FA
Thu 9/28/17 2:51 AM

Richard (8-15) gave up eight runs -- six earned -- on eight hits and three walks while striking out seven in Wednesday's 10-0 loss to the Dodgers.
EDGE Analysis
He'd turned in two scoreless outings in his last three starts coming in, but Richard can't be expected to post elite results with any consistency. The veteran lefty's final 2017 start leaves him with a 4.79 ERA and 1.52 WHIP on the season -- ugly marks for fantasy purposes that don't come close to being compensated for by his modest improvement in strikeout rate.

Clayton Richard
SP FA
Fri 9/22/17 4:06 AM

Richard (8-14) shutout the Rockies over 7.1 innings, allowing seven hits and a walk while striking out eight and earning the win Thursday.
EDGE Analysis
Richard received a two-year contract extension Wednesday, and he rewarded the Padres' decision with one of his finest outings of the season. The veteran southpaw maintained his excellent 3.5 GB/FB ratio with 12 groundballs Thursday. Richard has been coming on strong lately, tossing three quality starts over his last four outings. The 33-year-old has some deep-league streaming appeal for his final start of the season next Wednesday against the Dodgers, who he held to three runs over six innings in their previous meeting Sept. 2.

Clayton Richard
SP FA
Wed 9/20/17 6:42 PM

Richard agreed to an extension Wednesday that will keep him with the Padres through the 2019 season, Dennis Lin of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
EDGE Analysis
He would have been a free agent after the season, but the Padres wanted to secure some starting pitching depth, particularly for 2018. The terms of the contract are undisclosed. Richard has a 4.82 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and just 136 strikeouts in 185 innings, so this extension is more about quantity of innings than quality. The Padres are loaded with pitching down on the farm, so Richard should transition to a bullpen role before the end of his contract.

Clayton Richard
SP FA
Sat 9/16/17 7:47 AM

Richard (7-14) took the loss against the Rockies on Friday, giving up four runs on seven hits and three walks over six innings while striking out three.
EDGE Analysis
All four runs scored in the second inning, after which the veteran lefty settled down and gave the Padres a chance to come back -- a chance their sluggish offense squandered in a 6-1 defeat. Richard's 5.04 ERA and 1.56 WHIP since the All-Star break are unappealing fantasy numbers, and he'll be a risky play in his next start Wednesday at home against the Diamondbacks.

Clayton Richard
SP FA
Fri 9/8/17 12:33 AM

Richard (7-13) earned the win over the Cardinals on Thursday, allowing five hits and one walk while striking out five over six scoreless innings.
EDGE Analysis
He continues to live up to his reputation as a groundball specialist -- Richard has a top-three groundball rate among qualified starters -- inducing nine groundouts in this one. The lefty doesn't miss bats at a high clip and thus remains prone to the occasional hiccup when balls in play don't go his way, but Richard has appeal in certain home matchups.

Clayton Richard
SP FA
Sat 9/2/17 8:19 PM

Richard allowed three runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out four batters through six innings during Saturday's win over the Dodgers. He didn't factor into the decision.
EDGE Analysis
The veteran lefty has just a single win in the second half and sports a 4.94 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 6.7 K/9 for the season. In the right matchups, Richard could be turned to as a streaming option or low-priced flier in daily contests, but he's off the fantasy radar in the majority of settings. He projects to face the Cardinals at Petco Park in his next start.

Clayton Richard
SP FA
Sun 8/27/17 4:26 PM

Richard (6-13) allowed five runs on eight hits and two walks over seven innings in Sunday's loss to the Marlins.
EDGE Analysis
Richard looked sharp over the game's first seven frames. In that time he allowed just two runs and fanned seven batters. However, he fell victim to a Giancarlo Stanton home run in the eighth and was pulled from the game shortly after. The stagnant Padres offense didn't provide any run support either, as the team's only runs came in the fifth inning when Richard hit a two-run home run. Richard, who's now allowed nine runs over his last two games (12.2 innings) will next take the mound in Saturday's doubleheader against the Dodgers.

Clayton Richard
SP FA
Wed 8/23/17 12:13 AM

Richard received a no-decision during Tuesday's win over the Cardinals. He allowed four runs on six hits and a walk while striking out six over 5.2 innings.
EDGE Analysis
Richard did enough to keep his team in the game, but failed to register a quality start for the first time since July 30. All four of his earned runs came via the home run, as he surrendered long balls to Jedd Gyorko, Stephen Piscotty and Yadier Molina. It was the first time since 2013 that Richard had allowed three homers in the same game. The 33-year-old will take a 4.89 ERA into his upcoming scheduled start Sunday against the Marlins.

Clayton Richard
SP FA
Wed 8/16/17 6:41 PM

Richard (6-12) fired a complete-game shutout against the Phillies on Wednesday, scattering three hits and a walk while striking out six in a 3-0 win.
EDGE Analysis
Two of the three hits were doubles, but the Phillies failed to even get a runner to third base, much less bring one home. The shutout was the third of Richard's career and came almost five years to the day since his last one, but the veteran lefty's 4.84 ERA offers a better glimpse at how he's pitched this season. He'll next take the mound Tuesday on the road against the Cardinals.