Erlin ready for next start after long layoff

MIAMI -- There probably hasn't been a time in Robbie Erlin's professional career -- or even further back - when he's gone nearly two weeks between long outings.

That will be the case Monday when Erlin, the No. 5 starter in the Padres' rotation, will get his first start of the season on the road against the Indians.

Erlin's last start came on the team's final day in Arizona for Spring Training (March 26) when he threw 70 pitches (49 for strikes) over five scoreless innings in a relief outing against the Royals.

Erlin did get two outs on 12 pitches in Wednesday's 5-1 loss to the Dodgers, but other than that, he has done more sitting than pitching.

"It definitely helped," Erlin said. "I'd gotten hot a few times [warmed up] the previous nights so for me it helped to get a feel for the mound again."

Erlin used some of that down time to his advantage last weekend when he got a good look at the Indians when the two teams played consecutive exhibition games at the University of San Diego.

"It was nice to get familiar with their lineup, who is going to be in there, where they're at in the box and what their approaches are," Erlin said. "We'll go over it [scouting report] more in-depth before the game. But it was good to familiarize myself with them."

San Diego manager Bud Black doesn't anticipate any issue in terms of rust or readiness when Erlin takes the mound Monday.

"I think by the time he gets to Cleveland he won't be, in my mind, too far away from feeling confident mentally and physically about how he can perform," Black said. "I feel good about where he is."