Padres place Andrew Cashner on 15-day disabled list with strained neck

If you missed yesterday's game against the Rockies, you might not have heard that Padres starting pitcher Andrew Cashner had to leave the game early. Only six pitches into his start, Cashner was taken out with an injury that we later found out to be upper back and neck tightness.

Cashner began his night with a five-pitch strikeout to Charlie Blacknmon. After throwing one more pitch to the next batter, Cashner stepped off the mound and his battery-mate Derek Norris along with manager Andy Green came out to check on him. It wasn't long before Cashner was walking off the field and into the clubhouse, replaced by Luis Perdomo on the hill.

Later during the game, we learned that Cashner had experienced tightness in his upper back and neck. And today we learned that he will be placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained neck. This will be his second DL stint this year, after being sidelined with a strained right hamstring in May. One good thing to come out of this is that the timing allows this to be the corresponding move to the call-up of the newly acquired Erik Johnson, so the Padres don't have to make some other move.

Andrew Cashner hits the DL with a strained neck after exiting last night's start. Erik Johnson, who starts tonight, takes his roster spot.

— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) June 11, 2016

This is yet another blow to a San Diego starting rotation that now only has two of its original five members. Opening Day starter Tyson Ross was placed on the 15-day DL with a shoulder injury after just one outing this season, and the timetable on his return remains unclear. As mentioned, Cashner is making his second trip to the DL. And just last week James Shields was traded to the White Sox. Additionally, Robbie Erlin had to cut his 2016 season short due to the need for Tommy John surgery

Hopefully this is a short stint for Cashner and we can see both him and Tyson Ross rejoin the rotation sooner than later. For now, it looks like we'll be seeing a lot more of yesterday's emergency long reliever, Perdomo.

Andy Green says for now he thinks Perdomo will slide into Cashner's spot in the rotation. #Padres

— jesse agler (@jesseagler) June 11, 2016

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