San Diego Padres: Robbie Erlin and Adam Cimber Come Through

The San Diego Padres played to a 3-3 tie against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday, however, the pitching staff played very well.

With a spot in the San Diego Padres rotation on the line, Robbie Erlin achieved what few others have been able to do in pressure situations this spring, step up.

Bryan Mitchell, originally scheduled to start yesterday’s contest, was a late scratch due to a “stiff neck.” Erlin, scheduled to pitch in a backfield game, made the most of his opportunity, firing 3 1/3 solid innings of baseball.

Word out of Padres camp is that Erlin, Tyson Ross, Chris Young, and Luis Perdomo are the four candidates fighting for two rotation spots. Erlin surrendered just two hits and one earned run against a large contingent of Diamondbacks’ starters. He posted four strikeouts, running his spring total to eight over 6 1/3 innings.

Erlin missed all of 2017 recovering from Tommy John but is now healthy and feels no ill-effects of surgery. With only 148 career innings at the ML level, he’s the underdog in the fight for a rotation spot. As spring training winds down, Erlin faces the odds of earning only one more outing to prove his case. He still has an option remaining so he’s likely ticketed for El Paso, for now. Regardless of where he begins the season, it’s a positive sight to watch Erlin’s success so soon after returning to the mound.

Adam Cimber, 27, has been the most dominant arm out of the bullpen this spring. Over eight appearances, opposing hitters are batting just .167, while Cimber has issued only one free pass in seven innings. No one has been able to score on him. There are multiple bullpen spots still available. Will we see Cimber make his long-awaited major league debut in 2018? Chances are, yes.

As for the offense, there wasn’t a lot to be excited about. The Padres struck out a combined 12 times while producing only five hits. The highlight of the afternoon came from Hunter Renfroe.

Next: Friars on Base Interviews Kurt Bevacqua

The San Diego Padres will battle the Los Angeles Dodgers this afternoon. Fans can watch the game on SNLA or on MLB.tv. Tyson Ross continues his bid for a starting rotation spot and the Padres roll out what very well could be the Opening Day starting lineup.