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Stauffer returns to bigs to start for Padres

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Tim Stauffer was 0-1 in two starts for the Padres in 2007. (AP)

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By Corey Brock / MLB.com

07/11/09 1:12 AM ET

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Padres will go with their 10th starting pitcher of the season on Saturday when Tim Stauffer makes his first start for San Diego since 2007.

The Padres, who already have Jake Peavy, Chris Young and Cha Seung Baek on the disabled list, turn to Stauffer to take the spot vacated by Walter Silva, who was designated for assignment earlier this week.

Stauffer is no stranger to the Padres, having pitched in '05, '06 and twice in '07. He is a former first-round Draft pick (fourth overall) in 2003.

Stauffer is 4-7 with a 6.37 ERA in 18 career Major League games. He was 0-1 with a 21.13 ERA in two starts in 2007.

He underwent labrum surgery last May and missed all of last season rehabbing his pitching shoulder.

Fully recovered from that surgery, Stauffer has performed well at two Minor League stops this season, going 2-1 with a 2.14 ERA between Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A Portland.

He was 2-1 with a 2.35 ERA in four starts with Portland and tossed eight scoreless innings in a victory over Colorado Springs last week.

"I think Stauffer's put himself back on the radar," said Padres manager Bud Black, who received postive reports from Portland manager Randy Ready and Grady Fuson, the Padres' vice president of player development and scouting.

"All the reports on him are good."

The Padres had considered handling the start internally, perhaps with pitchers Luis Perdomo, Ryan Webb or Mike Ekstrom. But the Padres had to use Perdomo in relief of Josh Geer in Friday's loss to the Giants.

Pitching matchup
SD: RHP Tim Stauffer (0-0, -- ERA)
Stauffer makes his first appearance in the Major Leagues since 2007 when he made two starts with the Padres. Stauffer, who had shoulder surgery a year ago, was 2-1 with a 2.14 ERA between Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A Portland. He was 2-1 with a 2.35 ERA in four starts with Portland and tossed eight scoreless innings in a victory over Colorado Springs last week.

SF: RHP Matt Cain (10-2, 2.42 ERA)
Cain has been dominant this season, allowing one earned run or less over at least six innings in 10 starts. Lifetime, Cain is 39-15 when he receives two or more runs of support. That improves to 35-6 when San Francisco scores at least three runs for him, including 9-0 this year. He has made 12 quality starts in 17 outings, and, not coincidentally, the Giants are 12-5 in his appearances. Cain's next assignment after this one will be his first career All-Star Game.

Tidbits
In the past 17 games Padres reliever Cla Meredith has appeared in, the Padres are 0-17. ... Outfielder Brian Giles, on the disabled list since June 23 (retroactive to June 19) with a right knee contusion, is getting "better," according to Black. There's still no timetable as to when Giles might return. ... Kevin Correia, who gets the start on Sunday against his former team, saw his ERA drop Friday when the a scoring change from his last start in Arizona saw him charged with one fewer earned run than he was initially charged with. Correia's ERA dropped from 4.58 to 4.48. ... Young, on the disabled list with a strained right shoulder, will either throw in the bullpen prior to Saturday's game or on the side. ... Portland signed infielder Russ Adams to a Minor League contract after the infielder was granted free agency by the Blue Jays organization earlier this week. Adams, 28, is a veteran of 278 Major League games with Toronto between 2004-09 but on July 6 refused his assignment back to Triple-A Las Vegas, where he began the season. Also, the Padres outrighted right-handed pitcher Silva to Portland. To make room for Silva, the Beavers released left-hander Mike O'Connor. ... Rookie outfielder Kyle Blanks got his second start in right field on Friday.

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Up next
• Sunday: Padres (Kevin Correia, 5-7, 4.48) at Giants (Barry Zito, 5-8, 4.43), 1:05 p.m. PT
• Monday: All-Star break
• Tuesday: All-Star break

Corey Brock is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.