Cashner turning corner in Padres' rotation

Since moving into the starting rotation last month, Andrew Cashner has gone 3-2 with a 2.80 ERA in six starts, while opponents are hitting .227 against him. The right-hander will make his seventh start on Saturday, when the Padres face the D-backs at Chase Field.

Smith drops rookie battle to Cards' Lyons

In a battle of rookies, Padres right-hander Burch Smith was outmatched by Cardinals southpaw Tyler Lyons on Wednesday night in San Diego, where the Friars took a 5-3 loss to close their homestand.

Padres are looking to gain ground on D-backs

The Padres have beat the D-backs in eight of their last 10 contests at Chase Field, where the two teams will meet on Friday. San Diego sends Eric Stults to the mound to oppose Arizona's Brandon McCarthy.

Baker is nailing runners with greater success

Padres pitcher Jason Marquis offered some advice to John Baker on how to add some velocity to his throws, and the catcher's adjustment has led to a dramatic improvement in stopping would-be basestealers.

Richard makes promising second rehab start

Padres pitcher Clayton Richard, on the disabled list since May 5 with an intestinal virus, made his second Minor League rehabilitation start on Tuesday for Triple-A Tucson in Omaha, allowing two runs in six innings.

Forsythe, Maybin are ready for game action

A pair of not-so injured Padres are heading to Arizona to play in games on Friday, as infielder Logan Forsythe and outfielder Cameron Maybin work their way back from the disabled list.

Volquez derailed in fifth as Cardinals cruise

Edinson Volquez ran into trouble in the fifth inning Tuesday night against the Cardinals, who pulled away for a 10-2 victory to even the series at Petco Park.

Venable finding power stroke at Petco Park

What's impressed manager Bud Black the most about Will Venable's recent power surge has been the pitches that the Padres' outfielder is hitting for home runs.

Quentin rests sore knee after awkward slide

Carlos Quentin is not in the lineup for Tuesday night's game against the Cardinals, resting a sore knee after sliding awkwardly into home plate Monday.

Padres displaying dazzling infield defense

The Padres have been pleased with their solid infield defense, which was showcased Monday night behind ground-ball pitcher Jason Marquis.

Ashby joined by Zuk to rep Padres at Draft

Former Padres pitcher Andy Ashby, who won 70 games over eight seasons with the team, will represent the franchise during Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft next month.

Before return, Grandal working in Triple-A

A 50-game suspension started at the beginning of his season and has relegated Yasmani Grandal's season to mostly extended spring training appearances at this point. Grandal joined the Triple-A Tucson Padres on Saturday.

Family of Padres' Hinch safe after Okla. tornadoes

Padres vice president and assistant general manager A.J. Hinch, an Oklahoma native, has family that lives where Monday's deadly tornadoes hit, but everyone was safe.

Marquis, Padres continue strong stretch

Jason Marquis outdueled ERA leader Shelby Miller as the Padres won their third straight, 4-2, in the series opener against the Cardinals on Monday night.

No need for a cab, Everth is running like the wind

Everth Cabrera says he has never felt better in the Majors before now -- and it shows, as the Padres shortstop leads the big leagues in stolen bases.

Black can't say enough about boffo batting

Bud Black was gushing like a proud papa -- er, manager. The Padres' offense ended the weekend going gangbusters, and the skipper was raving not only about all the runs, but the diversity of the attack.

Minor Leaguer Darnell again felled by injury

Padres infielder/outfielder James Darnell, hurt in 2011 and again in 2012, suffered what appears to be another serious shoulder injury while playing for Triple-A Tucson last week.

Maybin might start rehab stint on Friday

Center fielder Cameron Maybin could be headed out on a Minor League rehabilitation stint as soon as Friday if he responds well to swinging the bat this week.

Getting plunked not uncommon in Padres lineup

When Chase Headley was hit by a Jordan Zimmermann pitch in the seventh inning Saturday, he calmly took off his shin guard and jogged toward first base. It was something that has become pretty common.

Headley happy to play in speedy game

A big smile washed across Chase Headley's face Sunday when he was asked about the Padres' 2-1 victory over the Nationals on Saturday. The smile wasn't so much for the win itself, but the time of the game -- two hours and one minute.

Offense breaks out behind Cashner's solid start

A four-run fifth and a five-run seventh helped Andrew Cashner and the Padres easily defeat the Nationals, 13-4, at Petco Park on Sunday.

Black, Padres players honor those battling cancer

Long before he was the Padres manager, Bud Black along with his wife, Nan, thought it was important to be a part of the Rady Children's Hospital Celebration of Champions.

Padres option Brach to make room for Quentin

Reliever Brad Brach, who had the second-lowest inherited runners scored percentage, was optioned to Triple-A Tucson to make room for Carlos Quentin before Saturday's game against the Nationals.

Luebke's throwing program stopped after discomfort

Pitcher Cory Luebke's recovery from reconstructive elbow surgery a year ago has hit another speed bump. Luebke's throwing program was stopped last week for the second time this calendar year after he felt some discomfort in his left elbow after a throwing session.

Stults spins gem to lead Padres past Nats

Everth Cabrera's run-scoring single in the eighth inning Saturday helped back Eric Stults' great start in the Padres' 2-1 victory over the Nationals before a crowd of 33,646 at Petco Park.

'Headley's Heroes' to honor brave child on Sunday

In the first stop of his "Headley's Heroes" initiative, Chase Headley spent part of Friday at the Rady Children's Hospital, visiting patients at the Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders unit.

Blanks comfortable with spot start at first

Before Friday's game against Washington, Padres outfielder Kyle Blanks made sure to get extra work in defensively -- but this time it was at first base.

Padres rally in ninth, but fall in 10 to Nats

Chad Tracy hit a pinch-hit home run in the 10th inning Friday to lead the Nationals to a 6-5 victory over the Padres before a crowd of 29,898 at Petco Park.

Stauffer called up; Quentin on paternity leave

The Padres selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Tim Stauffer from Triple-A Tucson and placed outfielder Carlos Quentin on paternity leave on Friday.

Gyorko a more than pleasant surprise

Looking ahead, Jedd Gyorko should provide the Padres an offensive quality they will continue to welcome. He can flat-out hit. He has always hit. And that should continue.