Ross Shut Down for the Final Week, Despaigne a Question Mark

By Friar Wire

Eric Stults will be on the mound Monday night at Petco Park as the Padres begin their final home series of the 2014 season.

Padres manager Bud Black opened his pre-game media session Monday with the announcement that right-handed starter Tyson Ross is finished for the season.

“We decided early this afternoon that Tyson would not pitch again this season,” said Black. “If the season had continued for another week or two, we would have seen Ross again. This is much more about how his arm feels than shutting him down (for workload).”

Ross has been battling pain in the flexor mass of his right forearm since making his last start on Sept. 13. “There’s a slight strain in the flexor area,” said Black. “He still needs another week to allow the soreness to go away.

“The doctors are not concerned about this. Tyson is not concerned. It will go away with rest. We’ve just run out of games.”

Black also said right-hander Odrisamer Despaigne is questionable when it comes to making another start. Despaigne came out of his start last Friday nursing discomfort in his latissimus dorsi muscle.

“He played catch today,” Black said of Despaigne. “He’s responded well. He could start again. He wants to start again.”

But Black Monday named right-hander Joe Wieland to start Wednesday’s home finale against the Rockies in what would have been Despaigne’s normal start. And Black said he had Andrew Cashner, Ian Kennedy, Robbie Erlin and Stults available for the final four games in San Francisco if Despaigne is not ready. Erlin is starting Tuesday night’s game against the Rockies.

In other news:

• Black said right-handed reliever Joaquin Benoit emerged from Sunday’s game in good shape, although Black said he wouldn’t be used Monday for back-to-back appearances. Sunday’s outing was Benoit’s first in 24 games due to a “balky shoulder” and only his third in 35 games since Aug. 13.
• Right-handed reliever Blaine Boyer’s “balky shoulder” has healed and he’s on the available list for the final week of the season.
• Black said outfielder Abraham Almonte’s twice-sprained ankle is sore. Black said “there’s a good chance he could be out of action over the final week. There’s a lot of pain. If he does hit, it will likely be just from the right side.”