Where things stand in the Padres' rotation race

SAN DIEGO -- The Padres wasted no time thrusting their pitchers into game-like settings this month. On Friday, immediately following the first official workout of Summer Camp, they played their first intrasquad game.

That means that as of Wednesday night, 12 starting pitchers have cycled through the rotation mix. Twelve, it seems, is an important number. Manager Jayce Tingler has used it multiple times to indicate the number of starting-caliber arms he'd like to be able to call upon this year.

"We're going to have some challenges this year, and we've got to be able to adapt and adapt quickly," Tingler said. "We believed that having some length and some guys built up would give us the best chance."

With that in mind, here's a look at all the starters in Padres camp and where things currently stand in the rotation race.

Locks: Chris Paddack, Dinelson Lamet, Garrett Richards, Zach Davies

Paddack, Lamet and Richards were always locks to sit atop the team's rotation, and Tingler's announcement that the Padres are leaning toward a five-man rotation is a testament to that trio. He wants them taking the ball as often as possible in a 60-game season.

Davies' name isn't quite etched in stone like those three. But at this point, there's no reason to believe he'd miss out on a rotation spot -- barring illness or injury.

Regarding the team's Opening Day starter, Tingler said he is probably five to seven days away from naming one. On Thursday, he was asked if Paddack -- the presumed favorite -- had done any lobbying.

"I'm pretty sure I know how he feels," Tingler said wryly.

On the bubble: Joey Lucchesi, Cal Quantrill

One of the fiercest Spring Training battles has evidently carried over into Summer Camp.

“No different from where we were in Spring Training, we definitely have competition for that spot,” Tingler said.

But if Lucchesi and Quantrill were once competing for the final place on the pitching staff, it now seems likelier that they both make the club -- in different capacities. Quantrill might fit perfectly as a swingman and a spot starter in the event of an injury or a virus-related absence. Lucchesi, meanwhile, hasn't been ruled out of a long relief role, but he's viewed more as a starter.

As things stand, Lucchesi is probably the favorite, but the Padres have yet to settle on him in that role. If Quantrill's their best option, they’d choose him. Or, they might experiment ...

In the mix: Adrian Morejon, Michel Baez

Speaking of expanded rosters (which will include 30 players for the first two weeks of the season and 28 for the next two), the Padres have an opportunity to get creative. San Diego already boasts one of the deepest bullpens in baseball, including a number of pitchers -- namely Matt Strahm, Drew Pomeranz and Quantrill -- considered multi-inning weapons.

With that in mind, Morejon and Baez have better odds than you'd think. Both prospects were midseason callups last year, and both are being built toward a normal starter's workload this month. If Lucchesi struggles, either of the two could win the No. 5 spot as a traditional starter.

But it's also possible that the Padres' last rotation spot goes to Morejon or Baez -- with the understanding that they'll pitch a time or two through the order while the bullpen bears most of the burden that day. Tingler hasn’t ruled anything out.

Long shots: MacKenzie Gore, Luis Patiño, Ronald Bolaños, Jerad Eickhoff

This list probably feels like a disappointment to Padres fans, who are eagerly awaiting the debuts of top prospects Gore and Patiño. It shouldn't be viewed that way.

The two 21-year-olds were always unlikely to crack the starting five on Opening Day. That doesn't mean they won't play an integral role at some point during the season. Tingler indicated that the duo might be up for a number of roles, but at the very least, they could serve as valuable depth in the event of injury or illness.

Bolaños and Eickhoff are also expected to be among the depth options. That group of starters will train at the team's alternate site during the season, playing regular intrasquad games.

"It's what we've looked at in the past as that Triple-A farm system," Tingler said. "When they have to be called upon, they're going to have to be ready for game action."

Prospects: Ryan Weathers, Joey Cantillo

If you're counting, you probably noticed we've already tallied 12 pitchers. Those are the 12 arms in the mix for big league starts this season. There's almost no chance that either Weathers or Cantillo earns a callup in 2020. But that doesn't mean they won't have an important role to play.

"The position players are going to need to have live at-bats, because this is going to be the only farm system feed we have," Tingler said. "When and if they get called, they're going to have to be ready."

Weathers and Cantillo, the team's Nos. 9 and 10 prospects, respectively, will be starters in the team's alternate-site games. It's imperative that their performance lives up to a certain standard for the benefit of the hitters they're facing.