The Padres have filled their rotation vacancy. Walker Lockett will get the ball Friday for his Major League debut when San Diego opens a three-game series against the Reds at Petco Park.
It's unclear how long Lockett will remain in the rotation. That depends, in part, on how well he pitches. The Padres will make a corresponding move ahead of Friday's game.
"This is the time to start taking looks at guys," Padres manager Andy Green said. "He's got the opportunity to come up here, establish himself and throw the ball well and possibly earn another shot."
Lockett fills the rotation spot left vacant by rookie Joey Lucchesi, who has missed two weeks with a right hip strain. To avoid Lucchesi's turn, the Padres worked around an off-day and used a bullpen day.
Now, however, it appears likely Lucchesi will need a rehab appearance before he comes back. That could clear a path for Lockett to make another start Wednesday against the Braves.
In 10 starts for Triple-A El Paso this season, Lockett compiled a 5.31 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 59 1/3 innings. He has posted a 4.14 ERA in parts of seven Minor League seasons.
Lockett has been on the 40-man roster for a year and a half (since he was protected from the 2016 Rule 5 Draft). Friday night will be the Padres' first opportunity to see him against big league opposition.
While Lockett’s numbers aren’t anything to really get excited about, he has had some momentary flashes of brilliance this year. In his second start of the season, he tossed six innings of five-hit, two-run ball while striking out five. Then again at the end of April, against Las Vegas, Lockett once again went six innings, striking out eight hitters and giving up only four hits.
One of his original scouting reports from Fan Graphs explains that Lockett is a sinker-slider/change-up pitcher who’s able to get the ball over the plate for strikes. In his best start so far against Vegas, Lockett used the outside lower part of the plate to get most of those swings and misses. It’s clear that he had his best stuff on his slider working that day. The question remains, however, how can he maintain the consistency of those great starts.
