Robbie Erlin will become the first left-handed pitcher this season to start a game for the Padres on Saturday night at Coors Field in Colorado.
Padres manager Pat Murphy made that announcement Tuesday in Phoenix during his daily pre-game media briefing.
Murphy also said right-handed pitcher James Shields and catcher Derek Norris suffered nothing more than bruises when struck by hit balls Monday night. Shields, who took a line drive off his right forearm in the seventh inning, will not miss a start. Norris, who took a foul ball on his right hand, is listed as day-to-day.
“Derek is sore,” said Murphy. “He’s kind of day-to-day, but the prognosis is good, though. We can use Norris to pinch-hit. He’s had a couple of these this year where he thought it could be worse. Shields is sore, but there’s no fracture.”
Erlin moves into the fifth starting spot that had been manned by Colin Rea until he experienced discomfort in his right elbow and forearm last week. Odrisamer Despaigne, who started in Rea’s slot Sunday afternoon in San Francisco, will return to the bullpen.
Murphy said right-hander Casey Kelly will also be “Inserted at some point” into the rotation as a sixth starter. “Kelly will get a couple starts too,” said Murphy.
Erlin will be the Padres first left-handed starter since he started the final game of the 2014 season.
Also, right-handed reliever Shawn Kelley will throw a simulated game at Coors Field in Denver on Friday. “We’ve missed him and (Brandon) Maurer,” said Murphy. “We lost a ton of games recently in the sixth and seventh innings.”
Murphy finished talking about Tuesday night’s starter Tyson Ross and his new weapon, the cut fastball.
“It looks like it’s behind the hitter,” said Murphy. “He’s been throwing it for two months. When he is on, his stuff is really good.”
