Wade LeBlanc to Start Next Game for Padres

The Padres will recall left-hander Wade LeBlanc from Triple-A Portland to start tomorrow’s game.

A corresponding roster move has not been announced yet. The two most likely candidates to be sent down are lefty Cesar Ramos and righty Adam Russell.

What makes the decision difficult is that both Ramos and Russell have great reasons to stay on the roster.

In Ramos’ case, he’s the only lefty in the bullpen. Running an NL bullpen without a lefty these days is practically unheard of.

Russell, however, has thrown 4 1/3 hitless innings this year with five strikeouts. You can’t pitch much better than that.

I’d send down Ramos if I were the Padres; they’d likely only be without a lefty for only a day or two.

Primary lefty Joe Thatcher has made three rehab appearances in Portland, and should be ready to go any day now. The Padres could easily get through tomorrow’s game without a lefty reliever, then send LeBlanc down and activate Thatcher for Monday, when they don’t need a fifth starter anymore.