NewsInjuries forcing Black to get crafty
San Diego (34-43) vs. Houston (37-39), 12:35 p.m. PT
By Corey Brock / MLB.com
07/02/09 1:00 AM ET
SAN DIEGO -- With nine Padres players currently on the disabled list, manager Bud Black has had to be a little creative in making out his daily lineup. Now it appears two of those players the team hoped to have back before the All-Star break, right fielder Brian Giles and catcher Nick Hundley, won't be activated until after the second half resumes on July 16 at the earliest. It was discovered this week after a second MRI exam that Hundley has a small fracture in his left wrist. Hundley was placed on the DL on June 19, retroactive to June 18. Hundley will certainly need a Minor League rehabilitation stint, as he's had only two at-bats since June 9. Black said three weeks was a good estimate to when Hundley might be able to play again. That means the Padres will lean heavily on veteran catcher Henry Blanco and Eliezer Alfonzo, who was promoted from Triple-A Portland when Hundley landed on the shelf. As for Giles, who has been on the DL since June 23 (retro to June 19) with a right knee contusion, his return date is unclear, though general manager Kevin Towers didn't sound very optimistic on Wednesday. Giles had a similar knee injury in 2007 that saw him miss 34 games. Towers doesn't think this injury is as drastic nor does he think it will require surgery. Towers said that will likely mean more time in right field for Tony Gwynn, with Scott Hairston getting time in center field and Chase Headley in left, though Kyle Blanks figures to get some starts in left field as well. Pitching matchupSD: RHP Kevin Correia (5-5, 4.23 ERA)
Correia posted his fifth consecutive quality outing on Saturday, holding the Rangers to three runs over seven innings. He struck out a career-high nine batters and faced the minimum in four innings. Correia needed only 95 pitches. In 20 games (11 starts) at PETCO Park, he is 3-3 with a 4.36 ERA over 74 1/3 innings. Over his last five outings, Correia is 4-1 with a 2.40 ERA. Over that stretch, he has a 29-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio and opponents are hitting .155 against him. HOU: LHP Wandy Rodriguez (6-6, 3.35 ERA)
Rodriguez wasn't spectacular last time out against the Detroit Tigers, but he kept the Astros in the game, allowing them to come back for a win on Friday. Rodriguez received a no-decision, giving up a home run in the first and second innings but allowing the Tigers to score only one run after that. He began the season giving up just one home run in his first 11 starts, but has allowed a long ball in each of his past five outings. Rodriguez has faced the Padres once already this season and was brilliant, picking up the win on May 8 after allowing no runs and striking out seven over eight innings. Tidbits
Portland Beavers right-hander Mike Ekstrom has been selected to represent the Pacific Coast League in the 2009 Cricket Wireless Triple-A All-Star Game at PGE Park in Portland on July 15. Ekstrom, who is a native of the Portland area, joins manager Randy Ready and broadcasters Rich Burk and Tim Hagerty as Beavers representatives in the game. ... Towers said he wouldn't be surprised if injured pitcher Jake Peavy doesn't appear in a game until September or, possibly, not this season at all. "If he's in a cast for six weeks to two months, it's going to take him another month to build his arm strength," Towers said. ... Black said Blanks would likely get a start on Thursday against the Astros, possibly in left field. ... Black on Adrian Gonzalez, who left Tuesday's game with a strained right knee but was back in the lineup Wednesday: "You can't keep a good man down." Tickets
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• Friday: Padres (Chad Gaudin, 4-6, 4.97) vs. Dodgers (Hiroki Kuroda, 2-4, 3.77), 7:05 p.m. PT
• Saturday: Padres (Josh Geer, 1-3, 5.68) vs. Dodgers (Randy Wolf, 3-3, 3.61), 1:10 p.m. PT
• Sunday: Padres (Josh Banks, 1-0, 3.38) vs. Dodgers (Chad Billingsley, 9-4, 3.12), 1:05 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.
