06/01 Padres Game Preview: Robbie Erlin's First Start

Robbie Erlin will be making his first major league start tonight against the Toronto Blue Jays. He was summoned from AAA Tucson to start in place of scheduled starter Clayton Richard, who was used (and picked up the win) in last night/ this morning's 17 inning game.

In addition to his first start, this will also be only Erlin's third appearance. He made his major league debut on April 30. He gave up two earned runs on three hits in his sole inning of work. Erlin worked another inning the next day, sitting the Cubs down 1-2-3 and picking up his first strikeout.

The 22-year-old righty has put up solid minor league numbers since being drafted out of high school by Texas in the third round of the 2009 draft. He made it to AA in the Rangers' system before coming to the Padres organization with Joe Wieland in the 2011 deadline deal for Mike Adams. Erlin has averaged ten strikeouts for every nine innings while putting up a 2.77 ERA and 22-10 record in 79 career games, 64 of which were starts.

Opposing Erlin and the Padres will be veteran lefty Mark Buehrle. Like the majority of his new teammates, Buehrle hasn't been on top of his game this year. His burly 5.51 ERA is over a run and a half higher than his career average. He has allowed at least five earned runs in over half of his eleven starts this season and hasn't been all that much better in the others. Buehrle is, however, coming off his best start of the year. He picked up the win against Atlanta this past Monday, allowing just one run on five hits and two walks while striking out six batters over six innings.

I'm not going to tell you about Mark Buehrle's minor league numbers because that was so long ago it's meaningless. What may be of interest is how he has fared against the players in tonight's lineup:

1. Chris Denorfia- 0-7, 2 K
2. Everth Cabrera- first time facing
   
3. Chase Headley- 1-4, RBI
4. Carlos Quentin- FTF
5. Jedd Gyorko- FTF
6. Yasmani Grandal- FTF
7. Kyle Blanks- FTF
8. Jesus Guzman- 2-3, 2B, BB
9. Robbie Erlin- FTF

Let's hope The Norf can break his hit cherry against this guy and get us headed in the right direction to even up the all-time series between San Diego and Toronto at 4-4.