Because the San Diego Padres method the midpoint of the 2025 MLB season, expectations stay sky-high for a membership constructed on star energy and large contracts. But, regardless of flashes of brilliance from key contributors, a number of high-profile gamers have didn’t reside as much as their billing, drawing the ire of followers and analysts alike. Right here’s a deep dive into the three most disappointing Padres up to now this season, inspecting the context behind their struggles and the affect on the group’s postseason ambitions.
Dylan Stop is the Mannequin of Inconsistency on the Mound
After a 2024 marketing campaign by which Dylan Stop posted a strong 14-11 file with a 3.47 ERA, the Padres hoped he would anchor their rotation, particularly within the wake of accidents to Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, and Matt Waldron. As a substitute, Stop has struggled to seek out his rhythm, opening the season with a 1-3 file and a 4.50 ERA over his first 10 begins. Whereas he has managed to string collectively three straight high quality begins not too long ago, his early-season implosion, most notably a disastrous outing towards the Athletics by which he surrendered 9 earned runs in simply 4 innings, continues to skew his general numbers.
Even when eradicating that one catastrophic look, Stop’s ERA solely improves to three.49, a mark that, whereas respectable, nonetheless falls wanting the front-line dominance the Padres desperately want. The principle problem has been his command, as Stop has too typically left pitches over the guts of the plate, resulting in laborious contact and expensive errors. This inconsistency has made it tough for the Padres to construct momentum, and with Stop on an expiring contract, questions loom about his long-term match with the franchise.
Padres followers have grown stressed, hoping for extra from a pitcher anticipated to be the employees’s workhorse. Until Stop can recapture his finest kind, his 2025 season might be remembered extra for missed alternatives than for fulfilling his appreciable potential.
Xander Bogaerts is Struggling Beneath the Weight of Expectations
When the Padres inked Xander Bogaerts to a $280 million contract, the transfer signaled their intent to construct a perennial contender round confirmed All-Star expertise. Nevertheless, Bogaerts’ second full season in San Diego has been marred by inconsistency and underperformance, particularly on the plate. By way of late Might, Bogaerts is slashing simply .249/.335/.346 with solely three house runs and 21 RBIs in 54 video games. These numbers are effectively beneath the requirements set by his profession averages and much from what the Padres envisioned after they made him one of many highest-paid shortstops within the league.
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The superior metrics paint an equally grim image. Bogaerts’ wRC+ sits at 87, that means he’s producing runs at a price 13% beneath league common. His strikeout price has additionally climbed to 22.8%, one of many highest on the group, additional limiting his offensive worth. Whereas his batting common on balls in play (.305) suggests some unhealthy luck, the general lack of energy and run manufacturing has been a major drag on the Padres’ lineup, particularly with different key bats sidelined by damage.
Bogaerts himself has acknowledged the frustration, stating, “Not with the ability to play the best way you wish to … I understand how a lot I anticipate of myself, and while you’re not in a position to try this, this can be very irritating. I’ve at all times held myself to excessive requirements”. Whereas he’s proven transient flashes of enchancment, together with a few multi-hit video games, the general physique of labor stays disappointing for a participant of his stature and wage.
Wandy Peralta Struggling within the Bullpen
The Padres’ bullpen has been a blended bag in 2025. Whereas nearer Robert Suarez has remained a dependable drive on the again finish, different relievers have struggled to seek out consistency, with Wandy Peralta standing out as a selected disappointment. Signed to supply veteran stability and high-leverage outs, Peralta has as an alternative faltered, failing to carve out a reliable position within the aid corps.
Peralta’s struggles have been emblematic of the Padres’ broader bullpen points, as he’s been unable to persistently retire hitters or escape jams. His incapacity to execute in key conditions has put extra pressure on the beginning rotation and compelled supervisor Mike Shildt to lean extra closely on different, much less skilled arms. For a group with postseason aspirations, bullpen reliability is non-negotiable, and Peralta’s underwhelming efficiency has been a obvious weak point.
The underperformance of Bogaerts, Stop, and Peralta has had a tangible affect on the Padres’ fortunes in 2025. Bogaerts’ lack of manufacturing has left a void in the course of the lineup, forcing others to shoulder a heavier offensive burden. Stop’s inconsistency has undermined the rotation’s stability, particularly with so many starters sidelined by damage. In the meantime, Peralta’s bullpen woes have led to late-inning collapses and squandered leads, costing the Padres invaluable wins in a tightly contested NL West race.