Hart (2-2) took the loss Wednesday against the Tigers, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk across 4.1 innings. He struck out six.

EDGE Analysis

Both runs against Hart came via solo home runs -- a Gleyber Torres blast in the first inning before Justyn-Henry Malloy increased the Padres' deficit to 2-0 with a homer in the fifth, forcing Hart out of the game. The 32-year-old left-hander has been up-and-down through his first five starts (21 innings) with the Padres, posting a 6.00 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 16:6 K:BB. Hart is currently scheduled to face the Giants at home in his next outing.

Hart (2-1) took the loss Friday, giving up five runs on 10 hits over five-plus innings as the Padres were downed 6-4 by the Astros. He struck out two without walking a batter.

EDGE Analysis

Rookie Cam Smith did the heavy lifting for Houston, crushing a three-run shot off Hart in the second inning and then dropping a solo shot into the Crawford Boxes in the fourth. It was a tough reality check for the 32-year-old southpaw, who had blanked the feeble Rockies over six one-hit innings in his last start. Hart will take a 6.48 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 10:5 K:BB through 16.2 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come on the road next week in Detroit.

Hart (2-0) earned the win over Colorado on Saturday, allowing one hit and striking out four batters over six scoreless innings.

EDGE Analysis

This was a drastic turnaround for Hart, who allowed five runs in just two-thirds of an inning in his previous start against the Cubs. The southpaw was nearly flawless Saturday -- the only baserunner he allowed came on a fourth-inning Kyle Farmer double. Hart's game-to-game performance is pretty hard to predict given the up-and-down nature of his results so far and the fact that prior to this season he last pitched in the majors in 2020. Fantasy managers will likely pay him more attention following Saturday's start, but it's worth noting that he still has just a 5.40 ERA and 8:5 K:BB over 11.2 innings on the campaign.

Hart allowed five runs on two hits and four walks in just two-thirds of an inning Sunday against the Cubs. He did not factor into the decision.

EDGE Analysis

Hart was staked to a three-run lead in the top half of the first inning, but that advantage quickly disappeared. He walked four Cubs and didn't make it out of the frame. Hart's day finished with the bases loaded and the game tied at three, and he was charged two more runs on two balks by Logan Gillaspie. It was a step in the wrong direction after Hart earned a win in his MLB debut. He'll look to bounce back in a home start versus the Rockies next weekend.

Hart (1-0) earned the win over Cleveland on Monday, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out four batters over five innings.

EDGE Analysis

Hart's start was his first appearance in the majors since he pitched in four games for the Red Sox in 2020. The southpaw worked exclusively in the minors from 2021-2023, then spent last year with the NC Dinos in the KBO, where he pitched well enough to get another big-league look from San Diego. After earning a spot on the Padres' Opening Day roster and a slot in the team's rotation, Hart performed well in his season debut Monday, throwing 51 of 80 pitches for strikes and inducing 10 whiffs while lasting just long enough to pick up the victory. He did yield two homers, but both were of the solo variety, and those were the only runs he surrendered. Hart is next lined up to take on the Cubs this weekend.

Hart will open the 2025 season as the fifth starter for the Padres, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hart didn't perform well in his final start of the spring, surrendering six runs over 4.2 innings of work, but he did enough to win a rotation spot over Stephen Kolek. Kolek was optioned to Triple-A El Paso, meaning Randy Vasquez will take over the No. 4 spot and Hart will round out the rotation. He'll tentatively be scheduled to make his regular-season debut March 31 against the Guardians.

Hart pitched 4.2 innings in a Cactus League game against Cleveland on Saturday, allowing six runs on five hits and no walks while striking out four batters.

EDGE Analysis

Hart was tagged by Carlos Santana for a two-run home run in the first inning and then served up another two-run shot to Brayan Rocchio in the fourth. The southpaw did manage to retire nine straight batters at one point between the two long balls, but this was nonetheless not a very promising performance. Hart is competing for one of two Opening Day rotation spots, with Randy Vasquez and Stephen Kolek the other pitchers in the equation. Among the three, Hart has been the least impressive this spring -- he has a 9.39 ERA and 1.57 WHIP to Vasquez's 3.38 ERA and 1.88 WHIP and Kolek's 2.19 ERA and 1.14 WHIP. However, it's worth noting that Hart also has only two Cactus League appearances under his belt, as he was set back early during the exhibition slate due to the flu.

Hart pitched three innings in a Cactus League contest against Arizona on Sunday, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three batters.

EDGE Analysis

Though this was Hart's second start this spring, it's the first one that officially counted, as his previous outing ended after two frames in a game that was ultimately called due to rain. The southpaw wasn't exactly sharp Sunday against the Diamondbacks, but he did allow the Padres a longer look at him by throwing 59 pitches. Hart averaged just 91.1 mph on his fastball, but that's in line with where his velocity has been throughout his professional career. Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union Tribune has speculated that San Diego may not have enough of an opportunity to evaluate Hart this spring to make him a part of the Opening Day rotation, though Acee remarked following the hurler's outing Sunday that Hart could still be a "viable candidate" if he's able to push up his pitch count adequately in his subsequent spring appearances. Even if Hart does ramp up enough during what's left of spring play, he's not guaranteed to earn a starting role, as the Padres are also considering Stephen Kolek and Randy Vasquez for their final rotation spot.

Hart's lack of game action so far this spring may lessen his chance of beginning the regular season as San Diego's fifth starter, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hart has pitched in only one Cactus League game so far, and he got in just two innings (without allowing a run) before the contest was stopped due to rain. He then came down with the flu, which temporarily delayed his progression. The left-hander is scheduled to start Sunday against the Angels, and he could get in two more appearances after that, so it's not out of the question that Hart will be able to build up enough to win a job in the rotation. However, manager Mike Shildt recently acknowledged that the Padres haven't had much of a chance to evaluate Hart -- who hasn't pitched in the majors since 2020 and played last year in Korea -- for a rotation role, saying, "We're not as familiar with him, but we like what we've seen. Unfortunately for him, he had a little bit of illness that set him back in his progression, but he can be in a progression to take that role. Just haven't had as much time to evaluate him." If Hart ends up not being able to make the Opening Day rotation, Stephen Kolek and Randy Vasquez would be the leading candidates to begin the campaign as San Diego's fifth starter.

Hart signed Thursday with the Padres on a one-year, $1 million contract that includes a $5 million club option for 2026, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

After reaching a four-year deal with Nick Pivetta on Wednesday, the Padres have further bolstered their rotation depth with the addition of Hart, a 32-year-old lefty whose lone MLB action came back in 2020, when he tossed 11 innings for the Red Sox. Hart was able to secure an MLB deal on the back of his standout performance this past season in the Korea Baseball Organization with the NC Dinos, as he took home the league's equivalent of the Cy Young Award while turning in a 2.69 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 182:38 K:BB in 157 innings. The lower caliber of competition in the KBO certainly helped Hart achieve his lofty results, but it's been increasingly common in recent years for American pitchers to find MLB success upon returning stateside following impressive stints in Korea, with Erick Fedde and Merrill Kelly both standing out as notable examples. Hart will likely still have to impress in spring training to secure his spot in the San Diego rotation, with knuckleballer Matt Waldron representing Hart's top challenger for the No. 5 spot.