Could this be the year of the first Padres no-no?

With James Shields, Andrew Cashner, Tyson Ross and Ian Kennedy taking the top four spots in the San Diego Padres rotation, could the Friars have their best shot at snapping the franchise’s 46-year no no-no curse?

The newcomer, Shields, took a Kansas City Royals no-no into the sixth inning on May 6, 2013 before losing it on a Dwayne Wise leadoff single. On August 3, 2009, while pitching for the Tampa Bay Rays, Shields held the Royals hitless through seven innings before losing the no-no (and eventually the game).

Cashner has taken two Padres no-hitters into later innings, and both times he had to settle for one-hitters. On Sept. 16, 2013 against the Pirates at PNC Park, he pitched six no-hit innings before yielding a Jose Tabata single to right. On April 11, 2014 at Petco Park, Cashner held the Detroit Tigers hitless through five innings when Rajai Davis hit a one-out single to center.

Kennedy, on April 17, 2014, took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before giving up a Nolan Arenado double down the third base line that hit the bag, making it impossible for third baseman Alexi Amarista to make a save.

On July 20, 2014, Tyson Ross no-hit the New York Mets for four innings before Travis d’Arnaud’s bounced a single down the third base line.

One of those guys is bound to break through, right?

Or maybe the key is the fifth spot, which will likely be given to Brandon Morrow or Odrisamer Despaigne.

Morrow on Aug. 8, 2010 took a Toronto Blue Jays no-hitter into the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays but lost it on a two-out single by Evan Longoria.

Despaigne, on July 20, 2014, took a San Diego Padres no-hitter through 7⅔ innings but lost it on a double by the Mets’ Daniel Murphy. The Padres later won that game on a walk-off infield single in the bottom of the 9th, but it ended like most with no no-no.

So many possibilities for 2015!