The Padres are hoping for good work out of their young starting rotation in 2012. They will have competition for the #5 spot in the rotation in 2012, but the top four are pretty well set. Here is a look at the starting rotation as of right now:

#1: Tim Stauffer: 29-year old righty Tim Stauffer finds himself atop of the Padres’ rotation in 2012. He pitched in 31 games (all starts) for the Padres last year and he was 9-12 with a 3.73 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. Stauffer has now pitched in 95 games (69 starts) in his first six years with the Padres and he is 23-31 with a 3.92 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. The Padres are hoping that Stauffer takes his game to the next level in 2012.

#2: Clayton Richard: 28-year old lefty Clayton Richard had last season end due to injury. He pitched in 18 games (all starts) for the Padres last year and he was 5-9 with a 3.88 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. Richard has now pitched in 63 games (all starts) in his first three years with the Padres and he is 24-20 with a 3.84 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. He has now pitched in 102 games (85 starts) in his first four years with the Padres and he is 30-28 with a 4.20 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. The Padres hope that Richard can stay healthy in 2012.

#3: Cory Luebke: 26-year old lefty Cory Luebke really broke out last season for the Padres. He pitched in 46 games (17 starts) last year for the Padres and he was 6-10 with a 3.29 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. Luebke only gave up 105 hits in 139 2/3 innings last year while whiffing 154 batters, showing just how nasty he can be. He has now pitched in 50 games (20 starts) in his first two years with the Padres and he is 7-11 with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. Luebke has a huge upside as 2012 could be a breakout season for him.

#4: Edison Volquez: 28-year old righty Edison Volquez came to the Padres in the Mat Latos deal over the winter and he will replace him in the starting rotation. Volquez pitched in 20 games (all starts) for the Reds last year and he was 5-7 with a 5.71 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. He has now pitched in 94 games (90 starts) in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 33-29 wwith a 4.65 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. I look for Volquez to rebound and pitch well in 2012, due to a change of scenery and the fact that he still has really good stuff.

#5: Dustin Moseley: 30-year old righty Dustin Moseley came out of nowhere to pitch well for the Padres last year. He pitched in 20 games (all starts) for the Padres last year and he was 3-10 with a 3.30 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Moseley has now pitched in 52 games (17 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 15-21 with a 4.61 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. Look for Moseley to have more success in 2012 if he can just stay healthy.

Anthony Bass: 24-year old Anthony Bass will compete with Dustin Moseley for the #5 spot in the starting rotation. Bass pitched in 27 games (3 starts) in his first taste of the majors for the Padres last year and he was 2-0 with a 1.68 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. He also pitched in 14 games (all starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 7-4 with a 3.62 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. If Bass loses out on a rotation spot this spring, he will win a job in the Padres’ bullpen for 2012.

Matt Palmer: 32-year old righty Matt Palmer is the kind of guy that Bud Black and his coaches turn into good pitchers. He pitched in 3 games (all starts) for the Angels last year and he was 1-1 with a 5.74 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. He has now pitched in 60 games (20 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 13-7 with a 4.52 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. Palmer could be this year’s Dustin Moseley.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE STARTING ROTATION IN 2012: B-