Volquez to stay in Padres' starting rotation

DENVER -- Edinson Volquez, who has the highest ERA among qualified Major League starters, will remain a part of the Padres' starting rotation for the time being.

"Right now, we're keeping our rotation in order as we go through the week," Padres manager Bud Black said. "We'll see. We talk about our players all the time, on an everyday basis, with the coaches and with [general manager Josh Byrnes and assistant general manager A.J. Hinch].

"It's an evaluation process every day."

Volquez allowed eight earned runs in 4 1/3 innings in Monday's 14-2 loss to the Rockies, raising his ERA to 5.80 in 25 starts. Only Volquez, the Orioles' Jason Hammel (5.20) and the Cubs' Edwin Jackson (5.05) have ERAs over 5.00 among starting pitchers with at least 118 innings.

Volquez is 8-10 and has made all 25 of his starts. He is also allowing 10.3 hits per nine innings.

Black said the Padres would have an influx of pitchers joining the team after Sept. 1, when the rosters expand from 25 to 40 players.

"We'll bring some arms back to the big leagues that we've seen this year, and there might be a couple of additions to our roster that we haven't seen this year," Black said.

Black said a six-man rotation in September was not out of the question.

"That wouldn't be too far-fetched at all," he said. "Or something where a couple guys get extended rest between starts or we skip a pitcher and have him pitch on a 10th or 11th day."

That could mean pitchers like Robbie Erlin, Burch Smith and Anthony Bass could rejoin the team. Those three are already on the 40-man roster. Keyvius Sampson and Matt Andriese, who aren't on the 40-man roster, could merit consideration.