The already dire Padres pitching situation got worse Wednesday when 22-year-old, right-handed starter Joe Wieland was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sore elbow.
The good news was that Wieland has already had an MRI on the elbow that showed no structural damage. The news wasn't as good last week when the MRI on left-hander Cory Luebke's elbow has the Padres contemplating "Tommy John" surgery.
"I just think this is a precaution and I'll be ready once it settles down," Wieland said Wednesday. "I felt it a little when I threw my curve. But it's nothing big in my mind. I'm not that concerned at all. The MRI was good.
Wieland becomes the sixth Padres pitcher on the disabled list. Four of those are starters. And highly regarded, right-handed prospect Casey Kelly hasn't pitched since the second game of the Class AAA season as the Padres monitor his elbow.
Other starters on the disabled list are right-handers Tim Stauffer and Dustin Moseley, who is out for the season following shoulder surgery.
Stauffer allowed three hits over seven shutout innings with Class A Lake Elsinore on Wednesday night in what should be his final rehab assignment. Stauffer, who has been out since the start of the season with an elbow strain, struck five without issuing a walk. He will join the Padres this weekend and start either next Monday or Tuesday's game in Washington.
Other Padres pitchers on the disabled list are right-handed closer Huston Street (strained latissimus dorsi muscle) and right-handed long reliever, Micah Owings, who has been transferred to the 60-day disabled list with a forearm strain.
