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It's been no secret that the 2023 version of the San Diego Padres have been underwhelming considering the high expectations that were put on them in the offseason. But putting the inconsistent offensive production aside for a second, the real hero of the season thus far has been the pitching staff

Entering into the season, the pitching staff was arguably the biggest weakness on this team but so far, it's been their biggest strength. Especially of late, the Padres staff has been dominant. They are first in the majors in ERA, WHIP and hits per nine innings. They have kept this Padres team afloat while the offense figures things out. 

On paper, San Diego boasts a top pitching rotation filled with veterans that can still go out and perform well. Blake Snell. Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove and Michael Wacha headline the starting rotation and they give this team a chance to win every night. The bullpen has also been lights out and is a major reason as to why the Padres are even in contention still despite all their struggles.

On any given night, any member of the starting staff can have a game to remember. They are all extremely talented veteran pitchers who know how to win baseball games. This gives the rest of the team some major confidence when any of them are on the mound. 

If the Padres can keep this up, they'll eventually turn their season around and be the team that many expected them to be. If this keeps up and the offense gets it together, the rest of Major League Baseball better watch out.