Padres right-hander
Dinelson Lamet is expected to start against the Brewers on either Tuesday or Wednesday, according to The Athletic’s Dennis Lin (
via Twitter). It will mark Lamet’s first outing since September 25, as he was sidelined by biceps tightness throughout San Diego’s postseason run.
Lamet received a PRP injection in October, and the Padres have been particularly cautious about not rushing him back into action until he is completely ready. Naturally any elbow issue is cause for concern with any pitcher, though Lamet is a recent Tommy John patient, having missed the entire 2018 season recovering from the surgery.
A simulated game in the 70-pitch range was the last checkpoint on Lamet’s path back to the mound, however, and now the righty is ready for his first official game of the 2021 season. Lamet will be thrown right into the thick of it against playoff-contender Milwaukee in his first outing, and if he starts on Tuesday, Lin notes that Lamet would then be lined up to face the Dodgers on Sunday in another huge game against San Diego’s chief rival.
A healthy and effective Lamet provides another boost to an already-strong Padres rotation. The righty finished fourth in NL Cy Young Award voting last season after posting a 2.09 ERA over 69 innings for the Friars, with a 34.8% strikeout rate that ranked fourth among all qualified starters in baseball and a fifth-ranked 27.3% strikeout-to-walk percentage.