SAN DIEGO -- For the first time this season, the Padres are scuffling. They've lost three straight series, including their first home series loss of the season -- a sweep at the hands of Tampa Bay that ended with a 4-2 loss on Sunday afternoon.
Of course, there are explanations aplenty for those recent struggles. The injury bug has bitten in a major way, and, as Manny Machado noted last week in Detroit, the club is doing its best to "keep the boat afloat" after a red-hot start.
¡°It¡¯s not as easy as we made it look,¡± said manager Mike Shildt. ¡°And it¡¯s not as hard as it is now.¡±
It's early. There are still five months of (regular-season) baseball to be played. But that doesn't mean there aren't a few causes for concern.
So let's break it down. At this point in the calendar, what is a serious cause for concern? And what shouldn't be? Here's a look:
Worry about ¡ the Padres¡¯ depth
The Padres have been forced to fill four spots in their starting lineup due to injuries. Those replacements? Some have been solid -- Jose Iglesias and Tyler Wade in particular.
But the Padres need more than that. Their depth was a major cause for concern at the start of the season, and those concerns have only been heightened due to the spate of injuries. San Diego isn't getting nearly enough offense at catcher, at DH and in left field.
Behind the plate, the Padres can deal with poor offensive numbers, considering what they're getting from their pitching staff. But they clearly need more from bat-first bench options like Yuli Gurriel.
Don¡¯t worry about ¡ the Padres¡¯ offense
When it's healthy it's one of the best in baseball. We've already seen that. San Diego's 106 wRC+ -- an all-encompassing hitting metric -- ranked 10th entering Sunday, even amid the current injuries. It ranked fifth prior to April 20, when Luis Arraez went down with the last of those injuries.
For the most part, the injuries are short term. Arraez and Jason Heyward could return Tuesday. Jake Cronenworth, Jackson Merrill and Brandon Lockridge might not be too far behind.
With those hitters in the mix, the Padres lineup lengthens and they can consolidate their bench depth, putting useful utility pieces like Iglesias and Wade back where they fit best -- into utility roles off the bench.
Worry about ¡ Xander Bogaerts¡¯ bat
Hitting in the second and/or fourth spot in the lineup, Bogaerts¡¯ struggles are more pronounced than they otherwise would be. But there¡¯s still cause for concern after his slow start.
Bogaerts posted a sub-.700 OPS last season, and he's now at just .662. His clutch numbers with the Padres have been poor -- a .631 OPS across three seasons with men in scoring position.
That's a far cry from the Bogaerts who had a knack for hitting in the clutch in Boston. The Padres need that version of him.
Don¡¯t worry about¡ Manny Machado¡¯s bat
Come on. Every year, Machado hits a rough patch or two, usually early in the season. And every year, he ends up hitting 30 homers and driving in 100 runs.
Machado is currently just 5-for-32 since the start of the team¡¯s most recent road trip. But he's been hitting the ball hard lately and missed his third homer of the season by inches on Saturday night, when Tampa Bay¡¯s Chandler Simpson robbed him at the center-field wall.
Machado¡¯s struggles may seem more pronounced because of the lack of help elsewhere. History tells us he¡¯ll be fine.
Worry about ¡ the Padres in the NL West
Even after the Dodgers made signing after signing during the offseason, the Padres reported to camp and stated their goal of winning the National League West. Then, they came flying out of the gates.
The Padres have set themselves up nicely with their hot start. But unless they can get back to full strength -- and stay there -- it's fair to worry about their ability to withstand a summer-long battle of attrition. After all, it might take 100-plus wins to win this juggernaut of a division.
Don¡¯t worry about¡ The Padres¡¯ playoff chances
Reaching the postseason will be a lower bar to clear.
Joe Musgrove was always going to miss the year due to Tommy John surgery. But the other injury concerns are shorter-term. The Padres' status as a contender isn't affected by any of them.
For now, winning the West remains the objective. But earning a spot in the dance is the most realistic -- and most important -- goal. On that front, the Padres' strong April has them right where they want to be.