Padres right handed Mike Clevinger was removed from today’s game after two fields were thrown into the bottom of the second inning. After throwing 22 places in a goalless first inning that included two walks and a wild place, Clevinger threw two balls at Dodger’s bat Cody Bellinger before leaving for a hill visit from the manager Jayce Tingler and a team trainer.
To date, it wasn’t clear if San Diego would even include Clevinger on the NLDS list, but Clevinger was actually on the hill to start Game 1. The Righty had not served since September 23, due to an elbow strain that forced him to sit, from the victory of the Padres wild card series over the Cardinals.
There was no word on Clevinger’s status, though Tingler speculated during an in-game interview (hat tip to Adam Berry of MLB.com) thatI think what happened was the long half inning there and it got tighter and never warmed up on him again. “The padres sent six batters to the plate on top of the second, forcing Dodger’s starters Walker Buehler Throwing 33 pitches resulting in a long wait for Clevinger.
While San Diego probably didn’t expect too long a trip for Clevinger after returning from an injury, the brothers have now been forced to a makeshift bullpen game to begin their streak with Los Angeles. It will test the depth of a padres team that is already missing a key arm Dinelson Lamet and now the possibility lies ahead that Clevinger could at least be made for the rest of this series. As Berry noted, the Padres can replace Clevinger on the NLDS roster with an injury, but that would mean Clevinger will not be allowed to throw either if the Padres reach the NL Championship Series.
