Padres have decisions when Cashner returns

SAN DIEGO — On more than a couple of occasions this season, injuries have sent the Padres scrambling for pitchers to fill out their rotation.

But if all goes according to plan, they’ll have a much more pleasant rotation decision to make next week — with six starters available for five spots.

Right-hander Andrew Cashner, who has fully recovered from a right-hamstring strain, is eligible to come off the disabled list Tuesday. He’ll pitch either that day or the next (with James Shields taking the ball when Cashner doesn’t).

That means Christian Friedrich, Cesar Vargas or potentially even Colin Rea could fall victim to a game of roster musical chairs.

“Somebody always wants your job,” said Padres manager Andy Green. “That’s just the way it is. Guys fight tooth and nail to get here. Christian Friedrich has fought hard to get back into a Major League rotation. Vargas kind of came out of nowhere to put himself into the rotation. Both have pitched well, and Colin Rea is …

continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com