Since the MLB All-Star break, it is really difficult to find a mere inconsistency or weakness within the San Diego Padres.

The Padres’ batting order, from top to bottom, finds a way to productively score runs. The five-man rotation is bolstered by the return of Joe Musgrove and Yu Darvish. And the bullpen, whenever called upon, has arguably been the best in the National League. Unfortunately, when the bullpen phone rings for Robert Suarez, it hasn’t been the greatest of times for the Padres closer.

After being nearly unhittable through the first four months of the 2024 campaign, Suarez is a shell of himself on the mound and is in jeopardy of losing his role.

In Thursday night’s 3-2 walk-off victory over a historically bad White Sox team, Suarez recorded the first two outs in the top of the ninth inning. However, he followed that by walking Gavin Sheets with a two-strike count. The closer then allowed a two-strike, two-run homer to Lenyn Sosa to tie the ballgame.

In his last six save attempts, Suarez has blown three of them, stemming back to September 5, when Parker Meadows hit an eventual game-winning, go-ahead grand slam in the top of the 9th inning to hand the Padres a 4-3 loss.

Heliot Ramos tied a game on September 15 in the bottom half of the 9th inning. The result on a fastball was the first splash-hit homer into McCovey Cove by a right-handed batter in history. The Padres eventually won the game against the Giants in extras. 

Padres’ manager Mike Shildt spoke to the media post-game and when asked about considering a change in the closer’s role. “Yeah, there will be a consideration. We have three good guys in the back, and we’ll continue to look at it.” Schildt said on September 20. 

Robert Suarez’s struggles are a bit baffling.

In theory, he should be generating more whiffs on his four-seamer due to the fact he throws it over 100 miles per hour.

The problem does not look to be velocity-based. The inconsistency of pitch command and location is plaguing him. The result is putting hitters ahead in counts and allowing more walks. And the lack of commanding a secondary pitch looms even larger. “I think he’s gotta be able to mix in something else occasionally to righties. He’s got the changeup; the ability to throw another pitch is going to be important to him.” Shildt added when speaking to the media. 

Heading into the 2024 postseason, this is a big question mark for the Padres.

A shaky closer could spell trouble come October. Trade deadline acquisitions Tanner Scott and Jason Adam, as well as Jeremiah Estrada, all have experience in closing games.

Scott, the most coveted reliever among this year’s trade candidates at the deadline, has been a tremendous addition, posting a 2.35 ERA with 77 strikeouts and a 1.21 WHIP in 25 appearances. Jason Adam has also been stellar, only giving up three earned runs in 25 appearances. Jeremiah Estrada is enjoying a fantastic year for the Padres. At one point, the pitcher struck out 13 consecutive hitters. He’s logged a 2.93 ERA in his first full season in the league. 

For the Padres, a certainty is that they possess options to replace Suarez if a change is to be made.

As mentioned, both Scott and Estrada have closed out games for the Padres this season. Adam did so as well for the Rays. It will be especially interesting to see how Mike Shildt and Ruben Niebla approach the closer’s role as San Diego’s postseason journey awaits.

Armando Duenas

Armando Duenas is a 24 year-old aspiring journalist. He is a native San Diegan who grew up in the South Bay area. A lifelong Padres fan and baseball enthusiast, he resides just about fifteen minutes from PETCO Park, where his love of the game began.