ST. LOUIS -- In the midst of his team's most brutal road trip of the season, Padres manager Andy Green wants to make sure the effects don't linger through the remainder of the season.
Green said he plans to give each of his regulars at least one day off during the Padres' 10-game trek through St. Louis, Washington and Toronto in the July heat.
"It's going to be 100 degrees the next couple days here, 100 degrees and over every day in Washington, [10-day] road trip right after the All-Star break," Green said. "It's probably wise to try to find everybody a day down during that stretch to make sure we're not running everybody into the ground early in the second half."
Alexei Ramirez was scheduled to be the first Padre to receive a day off, as he was out of the starting lineup Tuesday night, before the game was postponed due to rain.
In his first year as Padres skipper, Green said it's been a bit of a chore balancing the proper amount of time off for his best players. But the next couple of weeks are a no-brainer for an off-day or two.
"It's a tough thing to navigate a full season, especially when you don't necessarily have a ton of depth or a ton of replacement guys," Green said. "But it's what every team goes through."
Green was asked whether he'd support a potential scaleback in the MLB schedule to 154 games -- as has been speculated in advance of this year's collective bargaining.
"I'll leave it to smarter people to determine what we're going to do there," Green said. "That's one of the priveleges I have. I just get to worry about the 25 guys here in San Diego."
Ross, Vargas on the mend
Injured righty Tyson Ross threw from 180 feet on Tuesday with no issues in his ailing left ankle or right shoulder. Ross has been sidelined since Opening Day because of shoulder inflammation, and he had his recovery pushed back when he twisted his ankle in his hotel room two weeks ago.
Green is hopeful Ross could be back on a mound within the next week. The 29-year-old was throwing extensive bullpen sessions and nearing a rehab at the time of his ankle setback.
Meanwhile, fellow right-hander César Vargas is "nearing throwing," Green said. Vargas, who suffered a flexor strain in his right elbow in May, will likely be sent to the team's complex in Arizona to build arm strength once he starts to throw.
Vargas would likely need an extensive rehab before returning. But being close to a throwing program means the Padres are optimistic he could return this season.
Jay back in St. Louis
Injured center fielder Jon Jay was scheduled to bring out the lineup card for the Padres on Tuesday, before the game was called. Jay spent six seasons with the Cardinals, winning the 2011 World Series and three National League Central crowns.
"I got my first chance to be a big leaguer here, which was awesome," Jay said, recalling his fondest memories of Busch Stadium. "And obviously, winning the World Series with a bunch of guys I came up with in the Minor Leagues was great."
Jay also earned the Padres' Heart and Hustle Award on Tuesday, voted on by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association. Before sustaining a broken bone in his right forearm late last month, Jay was batting .296/.345/.407.
"He deserves every bit of recognition he gets," Green said. "He's an unbelievable teammate, a great competitior. ... He sits on the bench with a cast on his hand and is as invested as anybody else."
Jay remains about 10 days from getting the cast removed, at which point he'll begin to resume baseball activities.