The Padres have won seven of their last eight games, helping to push them over .500 and back into the NL West race, but they'll have to continue on that quest for a little while without their starting shortstop, Everth Cabrera. Cabrera has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a mild left hamstring strain, according to MLB.com's Corey Brock.
Padres place Everth Cabrera on the DL, recall Jaff Decker
The Padres will have to try to keep winning without their productive shortstop.
Denis Poroy
Cabrera has blossomed this year, hitting .305/.382/.418 despite playing his home games in the pitcher-friendliest of pitcher parks, Petco, and has also stolen a league-leading 31 bases already. Throw in solid defensive play at short, and he’s easily been one of the Padres top players. Losing him could be significant, even in a short period of time, given how clustered the NL West is, depending on how their reserve options do.
J.J. Putz injury: Diamondbacks closer beginning rehab assignment
Putz is scheduled to throw for Triple-A Reno on Thursday and Saturday, and could rejoin the D'Backs by next week if all goes well. The Padres traded for utility infielder Pedro Ciriaco last week, and already had Alexi Amarista as well as Logan Forsythe around to take some of the playing time at short. Ciriaco can't hit, but he can field, while Amarista will likely pull double-duty between shortstop and the outfield, given the injury to regular center fielder Cameron Maybin. Logan Forsythe is already filling in at second for Jedd Gyorko while he's on the DL, but, as Brock notes, he is also an option at short should the Padres need it.
Jaff Decker was called up to take Cabrera's roster spot. He's hitting .260/.379/.398, split among all three outfield slots, for Triple-A Tucson. He'll likely be outfield bench depth more than anything, as the Padres, even with the injuries, already have plenty of players to slot in for their missing starters.
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