Pete Alonso’s competition for NL Rookie fo the Month in June just got a little easier.

The Padres optioned 23-year-old rookie Chris Paddack to Single-A Lake Elsinore on Wednesday. Paddack had cooled off after his ridiculous start — allowing 12 runs over 14 1/3 innings in his past three starts — but his move to the minors is more about controlling the number of innings he pitches this season. Paddack, who has 72 strikeouts and a 3.15 ERA in 65 2/3 innings pitched this season, will have to spend at least 10 days in the minors.

Paddack was frustrated that he lost the season’s first Rookie of the Month award to Alonso in April, and proceeded to strike out the Mets slugging first baseman twice in their showdown in early May.

“Do I wish it was me? Yeah,” Paddack told reporters at the time. “But the way I look at it is, do you want to be Rookie of the Month or Rookie of the Year? We’ll see man. We’ve got a long season and I’m looking forward to competing against him.”

Alonso’s average has slipped some — down to .254 — but is second in the majors, only trailing Christian Yelich, with 22 home runs.

The award for May went to scorching Braves outfielder Austin Riley.