ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -Rangers right-hander Vicente Padilla is finally headed to the disabled list.
Padilla admitted Sunday to Texas pitching coach Mark Connor that he was still bothered by the right triceps problem that forced him to miss a start June 5. Padilla had an MRI exam then that showed inflammation but no serious problems, and the Rangers believe that is still the case.
The Rangers didn’t make the move immediately, but will put Padilla (3-8, 6.69 ERA) on the 15-day disabled list before his scheduled start Tuesday at Detroit. They don’t expect him back until at least after the All-Star break in two weeks.
Manager Ron Washington said he hasn’t decided who will start in Padilla’s place Tuesday.
Padilla, given a new $33.75 million, three-year contract after winning 15 games for the Rangers last season, has allowed 42 hits and 19 earned runs (10.26 ERA) over 16 2-3 innings his last four starts. Padilla last pitched Thursday against the Chicago Cubs, when he was taken out after allowing six straight hits to start the fifth inning.
When Padilla came to the bullpen Sunday afternoon for his off-day work, Connor sat him down and asked him what was wrong.
“He told me my elbow hurts. It’s good for a couple of innings and then it tightens up and he can’t get anything to come out of his arm,” Connor said. “I told him I’m not watching the same guy as I was last year. Last year, he was a groundball pitcher, he struck people out, and this year he’s doing neither. His command is not near what it was, his velocity fluctuates.”
Padilla is the fourth starter from the Rangers’ opening-day rotation to go on the DL.
Kevin Millwood (4-6, 7.31) has won consecutive starts since two DL stints for a strained left hamstring. Jamey Wright was lost for two months because of right shoulder inflammation after his first start, and Brandon McCarthy has been on the DL since June 10 because of a blister on his right middle finger.
McCarthy pitched 4 1-3 scoreless innings in a rehabilitation start for Triple-A Oklahoma on Sunday with six strikeouts while throwing 40 of 63 pitches for strikes. The Rangers still expect McCarthy to make another rehab start before rejoining the rotation, despite Padilla’s absence.
Willie Eyre or Joaquin Benoit could come out of the bullpen to make a spot start for Texas on Tuesday, or John Koronka could rejoin the Rangers instead of making his scheduled start for Oklahoma that night.
Connor believes that Padilla has been hurting since spring training.
“It’s obvious that something’s bothering him and he’s trying to pitch through it,” Connor said. “I don’t want any heroes. … We will give him some time off, continue to get therapy and quiet this thing down. We will get it to where it’s not an issue, no matter how long it takes.”
Add A Comment