The Padres were looking for protection for 1B Adrian Gonzalez. In the season-opening series against the Dodgers, Joe Torre refused to let Gonzalez beat him and pitched around the cleanup hitter. Gonzalez walked four times with runners in scoring position. The Padres' No. 5 hitter, Kevin Kouzmanoff, went 0-for-4 behind Gonzalez in those situations, prompting manager Bud Black to say adjustments might have to be made. With Kouzmanoff off to a 1-for-7 start in runners-in-scoring-position situations, Chase Headley batted fifth (and hit a two-run homer) April 12 while Kouzmanoff was dropped to sixth.
PLAYER NEWS: --C Nick Hundley is 1-for-8 with four strikeouts since going a career-best 4-for-4 Sunday. Hundley also had a sloppy defensive game Wednesday night in New York. Henry Blanco will be behind the plate Thursday, catching RHP Jake Peavy for the third time in three starts.
--3B Kevin Kouzmanoff is in a 4-for-24 (.167) slump with seven strikeouts over his last six starts. He is also 1-for-9 in runner-in-scoring-position situations and has been dropped from fifth to sixth in the batting order.
--RF Brian Giles is off to a very slow start. He is 1-for-17 over the past four games, during which he is 1-for-7 in runner-in-scoring-position situations.
MEDICAL WATCH:
OF Cliff Floyd (right shoulder strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 5. He could begin a rehab assignment in mid-April.
RHP Cha Seung Baek (strained right forearm) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 30.
RHP Mike Adams (right shoulder surgery in October 2008) went on the 15-day disabled list April 2, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 5. He had not resumed throwing from the mound as of March 27.
RHP Mark Worrell (Tommy John elbow surgery in March 2009) went on the 15-day disabled list April 2, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 5. He is out for the season.
RHP Mark Prior (right shoulder surgeries in April 2007 and June 2008) was progressing as the Padres broke camp. "If he's healthy, Mark's my ace in the hole," Padres general manager Kevin Towers said. If Prior continues to advance, he could join the Padres in May.
ROTATION:
RHP Jake Peavy
RHP Chris Young
RHP Walter Silva
RHP Kevin Correia
RHP Shawn Hill
BULLPEN:
RHP Heath Bell (closer)
RHP Cla Meredith
RHP Duaner Sanchez
RHP Luke Gregerson
RHP Edward Mujica
RHP Eulogio De La Cruz
RHP Edwin Moreno
RHP Luis Perdomo
CATCHERS:
Nick Hundley
Henry Blanco
INFIELDERS:
1B Adrian Gonzalez
2B David Eckstein
SS Luis Rodriguez
3B Kevin Kouzmanoff
INF Everth Cabrera
INF Edgar Gonzalez
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Chase Headley
CF Jody Gerut
RF Brian Giles
OF Scott Hairston
