Ross back in rotation, set to start on Tuesday

ST. LOUIS -- Manager Bud Black announced Sunday that Tyson Ross will return to the Padres rotation, getting the start Tuesday in Milwaukee.

Ross began the season as the fifth starter and went 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA in three starts before he was placed on the disabled list with an impingement in his left shoulder on April 20. He came off the DL on May 5, and though the injury to his non-throwing arm didn't affect his pitching, he wasn't healthy enough to swing a bat, bumping Ross into the bullpen as a long reliever.

He was sent down to Triple-A Tucson earlier this month to stretch back out into a starter. He made two starts in Tucson, pitching five scoreless innings July 12 and, most recently, tossing 78 pitches over 4 2/3 innings Thursday.

"We feel as through now, he's ready both physically and with pitch count," Black said. "We think that the injury earlier in the year has been resolved, the strength is back in the left shoulder. He's able to swing. We feel good about that."

But just as soon as Tuesday's rotation spot was filled, another opened up. With Jason Marquis headed to the disabled list, Wednesday's start in Milwaukee is now up for grabs. Black said Sunday that he will announce the starter sometime in the next few days, as soon as he informs the player first. The open Wednesday spot is just the latest in a long line of rotation shuffles for San Diego, which has sent nine different starters to the mound this year.

"It's not ideal," Black said. "It's been unfortunate, there's no doubt. Any team will tell you from the front office down to the clubhouse, the best scenario is to have your five guys out of Spring Training and have those guys ... make their 33, 34 starts.

"What we've had to go through the last couple of years is obviously not that. Whether it's veteran guys coming in or youth from our Minor Leagues, but that's what we've got. And we're going to make the most of it."