ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -Texas right-hander Vicente Padilla was not back from his native Nicaragua and was placed on bereavement leave Monday while dealing with what team officials called “a family personal matter.”
Doug Mathis had already moved up to take Padilla’s spot in the rotation Monday night against Cleveland. The Rangers had planned to push Padilla back to Tuesday, but left-hander A.J. Murray will come up from Triple-A Oklahoma to start Tuesday.
“We don’t actually know when he’s going to get back,” manager Ron Washington said of Padilla. “If he gets back here Wednesday, before we can tell you exactly where his spot is going to be, he’s got to throw a bullpen. In that case, he probably won’t be throwing before the weekend.”
Padilla’s absence isn’t the only thing causing changes to the Rangers rotation.
Washington said Sidney Ponson (4-1, 3.83) will pitch on three days’ rest and start Wednesday. Ponson will pitch in place of Kevin Millwood, who will out to tend to a personal matter and is now the scheduled starter Thursday.
Washington said Padilla (7-2, 3.67 ERA) could pitch Friday, Saturday or Sunday against Tampa Bay. Padilla left the team Sunday to return home.
In his only appearance for the Rangers this season, Murray won a start at Oakland on May 3, when he allowed two earned runs over 5 1-3 innings.
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