"I think I can do almost anything," Reyes says. "I can face a batter or two, or I can throw a couple of innings. I can start, too. I feel comfortable doing all of that."

And, though he's only in his first season with the club, the Padres are already comfortable knowing that the veteran left-hander can do it all.

They've had Reyes do more than pitch to just a batter or two so far. Reyes had gone more than one inning in each of his four outings entering Friday night's game, leading the bullpen with eight innings pitched.

Bullpen coach Darrel Akerfelds says Reyes has impressed with his ability not only to do whatever's asked of him, but to do it again the next day.

"He can do a multitude of things," Akerfelds said. "I know in Kansas City last year, he made 12 starts but he's also a guy they used to get lefties out. He's been very resilient so far. When we've extended him to a couple of innings, he's been fine."

Reyes, playing with his eighth team in his seventh year of Major League service time, pitched a clutch 3 1/3 innings in Game 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader at Wrigley Field. He came in after the Cubs had touched starter Brian Lawrence for seven earned runs in 2 2/3 innings.

"I knew I just had to come in the game and get as many innings as I could and try to save the bullpen," said Reyes.

Reyes has been the man with the most action, but the bullpen as a whole has been doing everything the Padres could ask of them early this season, Akerfelds points out. Part of the reason for that is that Spring Training was spent getting all their arms in condition to handle innings early in the regular season.

"Reyes has kind of been the main guy that we've gone to so far in game situations, but other guys have been going back-to-back days or two of three, and they all seem to be doing well with it," Akerfelds said.

Roberts begins rehab: Leadoff hitter Dave Roberts is taking the next step toward a possible arrival in the Padres' lineup Monday at home against the Giants, kicking off his Minor League rehabilitation stint at Class A Lake Elsinore on Friday night.

Roberts, who suffered a strained left groin March 12, started the season on the DL and has yet to make his debut for the Padres.

Assistant trainer Jim Daniel said that the plan is for Roberts to play five innings Friday night for the Storm of the California League, then seven on Saturday. He'll be expected to go at 100 percent, which he hasn't really done since the injury.

"Everything's going to be at full speed," Daniel said.

Just another club: The Padres play the Dodgers five times in the next seven days, and Friday night's game began a run of 19 consecutive games against National League West foes.

Second baseman Mark Loretta says the Padres are making a concerted effort not to worry about playing their division foes or any other particular opponent this year.

"I think we're just trying not to differentiate between games," the two-time team MVP said. "I think we learned last year that every game has to have equal importance. Whether it's April, the middle of the season or September, you've got to take the same approach.

"I think you can fall into a trap if you start thinking about the teams you're playing rather than just thinking about what you need to do as a team to win."

Big man in the clubhouse: The Padres got a clubhouse visit from nasketball Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar before Friday's game. Abdul-Jabbar, wearing a Brooklyn Dodgers cap, was on hand for the ceremonies honoring Jackie Robinson and warmly greeted Padres coach and former Dodgers second baseman Davey Lopes when he entered the visiting clubhouse.

On deck: Adam Eaton will try to build off his six shutout innings at Wrigley Field on Monday with his third start of the season Saturday at Dodger Stadium, one of his favorite places to pitch. Eaton, who has a career mark of 4-0 and a 1.11 ERA in eight starts at Chavez Ravine, will be matched against veteran right-hander Scott Erickson.