Perdomo making rotation decision tough

Padres righty has strong outing as competition comes down to wire

March 21st, 2018

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Padres are still mulling their options for the starting rotation and on Wednesday, gave them plenty to think about with only eight days left until Opening Day.
The right-hander was charged with one run on five hits in five innings against the White Sox at Camelback Ranch. He walked two and struck out four.
"Since I have arrived, I have really worked on what they have wanted me to do this Spring Training and I think I have gotten better at that," Perdomo said. "I'm just going to keep working hard and trying to win that spot. … My last two outings have been pretty good. I've improved on some things this Spring Training."
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Perdomo is competing against , , and Robbie Erlin for one of the two spots in the rotation behind , and . Joey Lucchesi, who is scheduled to start Thursday against the Indians, is also being evaluated for a spot on the pitching staff.
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Young, who like Erlin, could pitch out of the bullpen, was scheduled to throw six innings in a Minor League game Wednesday morning.
"It's getting close," Padres manager Andy Green said. "There's no real incentive for us [to announce the rotation] at this point in time because things change. Somebody gets nicked up and somebody gets bruised. You don't know how the coming week will play out, so you let it play out. We have an idea of what we are leaning towards."

Injury updates
• Outfielder , 23, who left Thursday night's game with groin tightness, began a running program Tuesday and was scheduled to run for the second consecutive day Wednesday.
"He was pretty good, a little less than perfect, but I think most of his activity felt pretty good [Tuesday]," Green said. "We are going to cautiously advance him to check all of the boxes. You have to pay attention to players at this time in spring, too, because they all try to conceal something so they are ready to go on March 29."
• Outfielder Alex Dickerson, who is scheduled for season-ending left elbow surgery at the end of the month, could play winter ball if he is healthy enough. Dickerson missed all of last season after undergoing surgery for a bulging disk in his back.
"I got over the emotional side of it a few weeks ago when I was pretty sure I blew it out," Dickerson said. "I gave rehab a chance, but went into it knowing there was a low probability, and I just decided I was wasting my time because it was not getting better. It was time to get it fixed."

Camp battles
The competition between and for the job at second base continued Wednesday against the White Sox. Spangenberg, who finished 1-for-3 with a triple, has 11 hits in 40 at-bats this spring. He has hit two doubles and three home runs.
Asuaje entered in the sixth inning.
Up next
Lucchesi is scheduled to take the mound for the Padres on Thursday against the Indians in Goodyear at 1:05 p.m. PT. , , , , Buddy Baumann, and are also scheduled to pitch. Listen to the game on an exclusive audio webcast on padres.com.