NewsPadres awaiting Cabrera's return
San Diego (28-32) at Los Angeles (30-29), 6:05 p.m. PT
By Corey Brock / MLB.com
06/13/09 3:20 AM ET
ANAHEIM -- A week ago, the Padres were leaning on the shortstop combination of Chris Burke and Josh Wilson, two players who weren't on the Padres' Opening Day roster.A week from now, the Padres might be back to where they started the season at shortstop with both Luis Rodriguez and Everth Cabrera holding down the position.
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On Friday, the Padres activated Rodriguez from the disabled list. Rodriguez got the start against the Angels after missing 24 games with a left ankle sprain.
"I'm excited," Rodriguez said before Friday's game. "It's been a long time."
Meanwhile, Cabrera, the talented rookie who was a Rule 5 addition from Colorado, is eligible to come off the 60-day disabled list on Friday when the Padres open a three-game series against the Oakland A's at PETCO Park.
Cabrera has been on the disabled list since April 20 with a fractured hamate bone in his left hand. He's currently playing with Triple-A Portland on a Minor League rehabilitation assignment.
Rodriguez was the Opening Day starter at shortstop for the Padres and was hitting .256 at the time of his injury. The Padres like Cabera's upside, offensively and defensively, where he's already regarded as a plus defender at a position where the Padres don't have any upper-tier prospects.
Entering play Friday, Cabrera was hitting .407 in 27 at-bats between Class A Lake Elsinore and Portland. Manager Bud Black hinted that there's a good chance Cabrera will be activated from the DL on Friday.
Last week, the Padres outrighted Burke to Triple-A Portland. The Padres could opt to keep Wilson, who is hitting .156, though he would seem the obvious one to go if there is a roster move this upcoming week.
Pitching matchupSD: RHP Josh Geer (1-1, 5.60 ERA)
Geer gets the start for Jake Peavy, who will be placed on the disabled list Saturday with a strained tendon in his right ankle. Geer has made eight starts for the Padres and has nearly allowed as many home runs (10) as walks (13). This will be his first start since June 7 when he allowed four runs in five innings against the D-backs. LAA: LHP Joe Saunders (6-4, 3.94 ERA)
Saunders struggled with his command early, giving up seven hits and three walks in his first three innings against the Tigers on Sunday in Detroit. He made it through six innings with four earned runs charged against him, stranding a total of eight runners. His fastball was live, but his breaking stuff was inconsistent. Saunders will be facing the Padres for the first time in his career. Tidbits
Cliff Floyd got his first hit as a Padre in the second inning of Friday's game against the Angels. Floyd was the designated hitter and will again serve in that role on Sunday. Edgar Gonzalez will likely get the start as the DH against Saunders. ... The Padres will place Peavy on the disabled list Saturday, though they might not announce who will replace him in the rotation until it gets closer to his spot in the rotation, which will be the following Saturday at PETCO Park against the Oakland A's. That pitcher will likely come from Triple-A Portland. ... The team and Cox Communications debuted "Away at the Park" on Friday, when fans watched the Padres game against the Angels at the Park in PETCO Park. The "Away at the Park" event will be held for each of the Padres remaining 42 road games this season. Tickets
Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.
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• Official game notes On television
• 4 San Diego, MLBN On radio
• XPRS 1090, XEMO 860 (Español) Up next
• Sunday: Padres (Chris Young, 4-5, 4.76) at Angels (Jered Weaver, 6-2, 2.31), 12:35 p.m. PT
• Monday: Off-day
• Tuesday: Padres (Kevin Correia, 3-4, 4.80) vs. Mariners (Felix Hernandez, 6-3, 3.06), 7:05 p.m. PT
Corey Brock is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
