San Diego Padres pitcher Mike Clevinger had to leave Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels early due to an undisclosed injury.
Clevinger pitched a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts to start off the game and never came back to the mound. According to reports, the Padres are afraid that Clevinger might have a bicep strain or perhaps tendonitis.
Whatever it is, it appears to be serious enough to where San Diego is afraid that he might not be available in the playoffs. Clevinger is scheduled to undergo an MRI to try and identify the problem.
It does appear that the injury has been getting worse in recent days. Clevinger was supposed to start on Saturday, but his start was pushed back because of reported bicep tightness.
San Diego sent a big trade package to the Cleveland Indians to get Clevinger, hoping that he would play a key part in making a playoff run. Since joining the team in September, Clevinger has been as advertised. He has a 3.00 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 18 innings.
Losing the 29-year-old pitcher would be a huge blow to San Diego just before the postseason, even though they still have a very good group of pitchers to work with, led by two big-time starters in Dinelson Lamet and Zach Davies, and two more proven options in Chris Paddack and Garrett Richards.
