PHOENIX — Just when the Padres’ offense is starting to fire into overdrive, the rotation now looks shaky.
Before the Padres’ four-game winning streak ended with a defeat 11-4 against the D-backs at Chase Field on Sunday, the club placed right-hander Joe Musgrove on the disabled list due to right elbow inflammation.
Musgrove said he started throwing his bullpen session between starts Saturday and something didn’t feel quite right, so he was told to stop. The 31-year-old said it wasn’t much worse than the discomfort he routinely deals with during the season, but the team decided that time on the injured list would allow the elbow to completely calm down.
“If we were at any other point in the year, I feel like if I had to go out there and pitch, I would find a way to do it,” Musgrove said. “But right now, if I push it and end up missing the rest of the season, that hurts everyone here. So you have to put your own feelings aside for a moment and see what is best for the group.”
Musgrove plans to return to throwing in a few days and doesn’t expect to miss more than the minimum 15 days required.
It’s been a somewhat bumpy first month for Musgrove, who has a 6.37 ERA in eight starts, but is coming off an encouraging outing against the Reds last Wednesday.
