Pads-Marlins Preview (June 9-11 at Petco Park)

The day after exiting early in Milwaukee on Tuesday, following a missed start, Jake Peavy was encouraged by the way his right shoulder responded. Peavy said he struggled with his mechanics and developing a rhythm after missing bullpen sessions and between-starts throwing for 2 1/2 weeks. The staff ace finally had a between-starts session on Thursday, 40 pitches worth, and felt fine afterward. Pitching coach Darren Balsley told MLB.com that Peavy, who takes the hill again on Sunday, also ironed out some things in his delivery.

FRI., 6/9 — FLA: Ricky Nolasco, RHP (4-2, 3.15/1.45) at Chris Young, RHP (5-3, 3.39/1.08)

Notes: Young has pitched probably his best ball over the past two starts, both victories, going eight scoreless innings in each and surrendering only a combined three hits and three walks, while striking out 12. His numbers on the road (3-0, 2.21/0.91), however, are considerably better than at home (2-3, 4.81/1.28). Earlier this season at Florida, Young threw six shutout innings, while fanning six Marlins, en route to the win.

SAT., 6/10 — FLA: Scott Olsen, LHP (4-3, 5.60/1.47) at Clay Hensley, RHP (4-4, 4.15/1.37)

Notes: After two solid outings, Hensley struggled with his control (7 walks) and was tagged for four runs in only 3 2/3 innings of work at Milwaukee on Monday. Despite the tough start, Hensley’s splits, like Young’s, are also better on the road (3.41/1.20) than at Petco (4.86/1.53).

SUN., 6/11 — FLA: Brian Moehler, RHP (3-5, 7.17/1.69) at Peavy, RHP (4-6, 4.56/1.19)

Notes: Vinny Castilla is 3-for-10 with 2 HR against Moehler. Brian Giles is 4-for-12 with a HR. … Peavy hopes to bounce back from his second straight rough outing on Tuesday, in which he lasted only 3 2/3 innings, while giving up five runs on seven hits and a walk.

GONZALEZ CONTINUES WITH HIT STREAK… With two more hits on Thursday, 1B Adrian Gonzalez extended his hitting streak to 16 games. Gonzalez is batting .357 (20-for-56), during the span.

WOODY CLOSER TO RETURNING… Manger Bruce Bochy acknowledged that starting pitcher Woody Williams could be back with the team as soon as the end of the month, with his first mound session, since he strained his left calf, going well on Thursday. Williams has been on the disabled list since May 13.

Questions? Comments? Feel free to e-mail me at dmfilip@hotmail.com.

Pads-Brewers Preview (June 5-8 at Miller Park)

In the second game of the series, Jake Peavy will start Tuesday on eight days’ rest after having his scheduled Saturday start pushed back because of lingering shoulder tendinitis. It will be Peavy’s third consecutive outing with at least one extra day of rest. He beat the Brewers on May 11 at Petco Park, when he allowed only two hits and struck out 13 in seven scoreless innings of an 8-5 win.

Mon., 6/5 — Clay Hensley, RHP (4-3, 3.82/1.26) at MIL: Chris Capuano, LHP (5-4, 3.33/1.15)

Notes: Hensley’s 2.57 road ERA is fourth best in the National League. In his previous start against Milwaukee this season, Hensley allowed four earned runs on eight hits — including two home runs — over five innings in a no-decision. … In four career starts against the Padres, Capuano is 2-2 with a 3.42 ERA. Capuano lost to the Padres on May 10 after allowing three runs in six innings. Mike Cameron is 3-for-6 with 2 HR against Capuano.

Tue., 6/6 — Peavy, RHP (4-5, 4.15/1.14) at MIL: Dave Bush, RHP (3-5, 4.95/1.21)

Notes: In two career starts at Miller Park, Peavy has an unusually identical 1.74 ERA and 1.74 WHIP, walking nine batters in 10 1/3 innings. … Geoff Blum could get a spot start since he’s 3-for-5 with a homer off Bush.

Wed., 6/7 — Chan Ho Park, RHP (3-4, 4.26/1.31) at MIL: Zach Jackson, LHP (N/A)

Notes: Park defeated Capuano by throwing six scoreless innings in a 3-0 shutout on May 10. That improved Park to 7-0 with a 2.15 ERA in 10 career outings against Milwaukee.

Thu., 6/8 — Mike Thompson, RHP (2-2, 4.91/1.32) at MIL: Doug Davis, LHP (3-4, 5.23/)

Notes: Earlier this year at Petco, Davis surrendered four runs in seven innings, en route to a no-decision. For his career vs. Davis, Mike Piazza is 6-for-12 with 3 HR. Cameron (12-for-34) has 2 HR and four doubles, while Vinny Castilla (7-for-19) and Khalil Greene (3-for-15) also have homered.

LINEUP NOTES: ROBERTS RETURNS SUNDAY… With RHP Victor Santos starting for Pittsburgh on Sunday, Dave Roberts was back in Sunday’s lineup for the first time since Tuesday. It appears he’s in a platoon now with Eric Young in left and will usually sit against left-handers. … Over their past 13 games, the Friars have hit .323. … Josh Bard, who gave Piazza a day off on Sunday, has hit .436 with 5 HR in his 10 starts since being picked up from Boston last month. He still remains a backup, however, and will get only two to three starts per week.

HOFFMAN REMAINS PERFECT… With a clean ninth inning at Pittsburgh on Sunday, Trevor Hoffman pared his ERA to 1.35. He is 12-for-12 in save situations this season, four while protecting a one-run lead.

Questions? Comments? Feel free to e-mail me at dmfilip@hotmail.com.

Pads-Pirates Preview (June 2-4 at PNC Park)

PEAVY LIKELY TO MISS TURN… The Padres are considering using Thursday’s off-day to give Jake Peavy some extra time to rest his shoulder, which has been ailing over his last several starts from tendinitis, holding him back until Tuesday in Milwaukee. Peavy’s regular turn in the rotation was coming up on Saturday in Pittsburgh. Manager Bruce Bochy indicated rookie Mike Thompson likely will be moved up a day from Sunday after Chan Ho Park pitches the series opener Friday night against the Pirates. Chris Young, coming off his one-hit gem through eight innings against the Rockies, would then move up to Sunday in Pittsburgh. Clay Hensley would then open the four-game series against the Brewers at Miller Park on Monday night.

ROBERTS, GONZALEZ POSSIBLY LIMITED AGAINST LEFTIES ON UPCOMING TRIP… LF Dave Roberts and 1B Adrian Gonzalez sat Wednesday against Colorado LHP Jeff Francis. With the Friars due to face lefties in four of their seven games at Pittsburgh and Milwaukee, it’s uncertain how much playing time the two will get. Conflicting reports had Bochy telling the North County Times he plans to give the two left-handed hitters a couple of starts against southpaws on the upcoming road trip. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported, however, that Roberts (.368 average against LHP this season) won’t start against two or three of the lefties on the trip and that after meeting with Bochy on the subject, Roberts declined comment. Translation for fantasy leaguers — on days when the Pads are opposed by left-handers, play alternatives if you have them.

FRI., 6/2 — Park, RHP (2-3, 4.66/1.32) at PIT: Oliver Perez, LHP (2-5, 5.47/1.78)

Notes: After posting three consecutive quality starts, Park has been unimpressive in his last two, both resulting in losses. Speaking of unimpressive, the veteran has an 8.22/1.70 in three career starts at PNC Park. … Vinny Castilla is 3-for-11 with a homer off Perez for his career.

SAT., 6/3 — Thompson, RHP (2-1, 3.50/1.06) at PIT: Zach Duke, LHP (3-6, 4.27/1.44)

Notes: Thompson tossed his second straight quality start the last time out, but got no run support and was handed his first big league defeat on Monday against Colorado.

SUN., 6/4 — Young, RHP (4-3, 3.80/1.16) at PIT: Victor Santos, RHP (3-5, 4.94/1.50)

Notes: Young bounced back nicely in his last outing to get the victory over the Rockies on Tuesday. … Castilla is 3-for-7 with a double off Santos, while Mike Piazza is 2-for-5 with a homer. Roberts is 2-for-4 with two stolen bases.

WOODY’S TIMETABLE MOVED UP; ESTES DONE FOR YEAR… For the second day in a row, Woody Williams threw 50 pitches without incident in the outfield at Petco Park before Wednesday’s matinee, enhancing his belief that he might make it back to the Padres rotation sooner than later, MLB.com reported. The original prognosis when he suffered a tear in his left calf muscle running the bases on May 12 in Chicago was that the veteran right-hander would be out two to three months. That was amended two weeks ago to six to eight weeks, with Williams pointing toward the end of June. … LHP Shawn Estes told the Union-Tribune that he will likely undergo season-ending surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left elbow. The southpaw has been on the disabled list since leaving his Padres debut on April 5 with the injury. Initially, Estes’ injury was described as a strained flexor tendon that would sideline him for six weeks, but further MRIs revealed additional damage after Estes suffered a setback during a recent throwing session. He’s expected to go under the knife within the next two weeks. The famed "Tommy John" procedure generally requires at least nine-to-12 months of recovery, so don’t expect to see Estes making any fantasy waves in the near future.

Questions? Comments? Feel free to e-mail me at dmfilip@hotmail.com.