Myers returns to starting lineup, Solarte scratched

By Bill Center

The Padres two injury questions from Wednesday night received semi-positive answers Thursday.

Initially, third baseman Yangervis Solarte and first baseman Wil Myers were back in the starting lineup to face Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner in the final game of the season between the reigning World Champion San Francisco Giants and the Padres.

Myers, who pinch-hit Wednesday after being a late scratch from the starting lineup due to “minor discomfort” in his surgically-repaired left wrist, will lead off and play first base on Thursday.

Solarte, who came out of Wednesday’s game with a hamstring cramp in the seventh after hitting a tying, two-run double, was scheduled to start at third base and hit second. But he was a late scratch with Cory Spangenberg starting at third.

Both got the green light before assistant general manager Josh Stein and interim manager Pat Murphy addressed the media during the daily pre-game briefing.

“Myers wanted to play Wednesday,” said Murphy.

Stein also said left-handed starter Cory Luebke, who is rehabbing from two rounds of “Tommy John” elbow reconstruction surgery, is expected to face live hitters either this weekend or next week in Peoria, Ariz. The hitters will come from the 59 minor league players assembled at the Padres Arizona Instructional League camp.

Stein also said the plan is still for center fielder Travis Jankowski to play in the Arizona Fall League.