Padres Preview: 05/24 Andrew Cashner returns for rematch against former teammate

The Padres are coming off a real bummer of a game last night as they try to turn things around against a seemingly unbeatable Giants team. The NL West leaders have taken the first seven games of the season series while pushing the Padres even further down into the division basement. But perhaps tonight will be the night they'll finally notch that first win against San Francisco, and maybe a few months from now we'll look at this game as the season's turning point.

And that turning point couldn't come at a better time*. Tonight's game marks Andrew Cashner's return from the disabled list as he makes his first appearance since suffering a strained right hamstring earlier this month. Cashner has had some really disappointing outings this seasons. Prior to hitting the DL, he was riding a 4.93 ERA and 2-3 record in seven starts. The worst of those was against these Giants during the team's first trip up north to AT&T Park. The righty allowed six runs, though only three were earned, and failed to make it out of the 3rd inning. Hopefully he can last longer this time around and give the bullpen some more rest. Padres skipper Andy Green told media that Cashner had been feeling great after throwing some extended bullpen sessions the past few days, and he wouldn't be on any kind of pitch/inning limit in his return from the DL.

The Giants starter will be Cashner's former Cubs teammate, Jeff Samardzija, in a rematch of that April game at AT&T Park. Samardzija also struggled in that outing, but still lasted three innings longer than Cashner and came out with the win despite giving up five earned runs. He pitched much better in his second try against the Padres this season, last Thursday at Petco Park. The 31-year-old threw eight innings and allowed only one run on three hits, striking out eight batters and issuing no walks.

Game time: 7:15 pm PT
Radio: The Mighty 1090, La Poderosa 860 (Sp.)
TV: FSSD, Fox Deportes San Diego  (Sp.)

*Okay maybe last night would have been a better time. Or last week. But I digress.

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