CRAIG’S COMMENTS: More roster changes as Fermin returns, Giolito heads to injured list; plus thoughts on pitching injuries and injury updates

Wandy Peralta at Petco Park

The Padres made two roster moves before Tuesday night’s game against the Atlanta Braves at Petco Park.

Catcher Freddy Fermin was activated from the concussion protocol list and catcher Blake Hunt was optioned to Triple-A El Paso. Also, left-handed starting pitcher JP Sears was promoted from El Paso and right-handed starting pitcher Lucas Giolito was placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation.

Over last weekend, the Padres activated Miguel Andujar (hamstring) from the injured list and designated infielder-outfielder Nick Solak for assignment.

Sears will start Wednesday’s game against the Braves with Randy Vásquez pushed back to start Friday’s first game against the Dodgers.

Craig Stammen opened Tuesday’s pregame media session talking about Wandy Peralta serving as the opener Tuesday:

“I like that Wandy enjoys the role of opener,” said Stammen. “I think he gets a smile on his face when we tell him he’s going to be the opener. He’s embraced that. A lot of other relievers may have trouble doing something much different from what their role is, but he’s embraced it and he’s done really well in that role.

“Wandy has just been sticking with it here of late. The start of his season was a little rocky. Then he just turned it on this last month, month-and-a-half. He’s a viable piece in our bullpen, being able to pitch in any different situation and kind of handle a lot of innings that kind of go unnoticed. He’s done really well in them.”

Stammen on Giolito going on the injured list:

“He came out of his last start feeling a little bit of elbow stuff similar to what he felt last year,” Stammen began. “That was the beginning of him having to shut down for the remainder of the season. He alerted our trainers that this is also what it felt like at the start of his problems last year. We just wanted to get out ahead of it, get him right and get him back pitching the way Lucas Giolito should pitch.

“I think we caught it early. I don’t think it is super severe. He just has some inflammation there, some irritation. He’ll be down from throwing for a couple days and then be back at it. You never know when a pitcher says ‘Hey, this has been bothering me,’ when it started.

“We all want to be tough enough to manage and pitch through a lot of stuff. We’ve all pitched through a bunch of stuff in our careers. That was probably what Lucas was trying to do last year and it bit him and he had to miss the end of the season and the playoffs. We’re just trying to stay out ahead of it. That’s the smart thing to do in today’s game. The difference is modern medicine that can get these guys back a lot quicker.”

Stammen on the series of injuries to his starting pitchers:

“One, I think our pitchers are a little older,” said Stammen. “And we have some guys who have injury histories. And we’re trying to be overly cautious of keeping them healthy the entire season instead of trying to run them into the ground and throw them on the scrap heap. We’re trying to put their best interests in mind, not only for themselves personally but also for the team so that we get the best version of all of them.

“We have a lot of pitchers. That was kind of by design from the beginning. We didn’t have a top-of-the-line, №1 ace pitcher. So, we had a staff that was good enough to handle a lot of quality starts in the big leagues. We wanted to make sure they were 100 percent when they were out there pitching. Our №1 goal is getting the best versions of themselves and then not having to pitch at 75 or 80 percent.

“It’s a different ballgame than it used to be, pitching depth is a big advantage.

Stammen on some injury updates:

“Luis Campusano is out in Arizona. He’s swinging. He’s doing almost everything but playing in games. So, he should be playing games here in the next week or so.

“Germán Márquez is doing really well in El Paso. He’s set to make another rehab start. We like what we’ve seen so far, we just need to build him back up so we can bring him back here.

“Jeremiah Estrada was here Monday and saw the doctors. Nothing much has changed with his knee. He’s going back to Arizona to start ramping up activity. Hopefully, that goes well and we get him back soon, too.

“Joe Musgrove and Nick Pivetta have a long ways to go. But long toss is certainly a good sign, a great sign. When you are able to do that, you are putting stress on your arm. But they have a lot of progress to go. They have to throw multiple bullpens, live batting practices, pitch in rehab games, get built up to a hundred pitches. So, we still have a while yet for them. But so far, so good. It’s a sight for sore eyes seeing those guys out there playing catch and long toss and feeling pain free and getting after it.”