Padres shut down Brandon Morrow for two weeks

A couple days ago we learned that Brandon Morrow experienced a setback in his second - and what should have been his last - rehab start. Prior to that, the plan was to have Morrow rejoin the team in San Diego on Friday and likely take back his spot in the rotation. But after having to leave his start early on Sunday, that possibility looked much less likely.

Today, we learned even more bad news. The shoulder soreness that caused Morrow to exit his Sunday rehab start after just 49 pitches looks to be more problematic than we hoped and the team announced that he will be shut down for two more weeks.

Morrow returned to San Diego yesterday to undergo an MRI on his shoulder and get some answers. According to Bud Black, those answers were far from ideal.

Morrow shut down after rehab setback | Aimee Sachs, MLB.com

"Our doctors looked at him [Monday], and he had an MRI, and there really [aren't] any significant changes from the previous MRI," Black said before a game against the Braves. "So again, I think this is a situation with Brandon, we'll probably have to take a little bit more time to let the shoulder calm down."

This is obviously a real bummer for the Padres. Morrow was pitching well before hitting the disabled list (2-0 with a 2.73 ERA in five starts). However, it's good for both Odrisamer Despaigne and Ian Kennedy, both of whom have had their share of struggles as starters this season and one of whom would have likely been relegated to the bullpen to make room in the rotation upon Morrow's return.