Padres Press Clips Saturday, April 2, 2016 Article Source Author Page Pomeranz wins spot in Padres rotation MLB.com Cassavell 2 Kershaw-Ross rekindles storied NL West rivalry MLB.com Schlegel 4 Cashner sharp early against White Sox MLB.com Cassavell 6 Orsillo excited about new start in SD MLB.com Cassavell 8 Padres fans enjoying experience at FanFest MLB.com Center 9 Padres sign Guthrie to Minors deal MLB.com Cassavell 11 SD mayor impressed by Petco Park additions MLB.com Center 13 Jeremy Guthrie, Padres agree Associated Press AP 15 Andrew Cashner efficient in Petco tune-up UT San Diego Sanders 16 What’s new at Petco Park UT San Diego Sanders 18 Drew Pomeranz named to Padres rotation UT San Diego Sanders 20 Sands earns roster spot, singles in go-ahead run for ChiSox Associated Press Wilson 22 Name your Padres-inspired beer as season nears UT San Diego Miller 24 Wil Myers ready to move on from wrist injury, mental struggle UT San Diego Acee 26 1 Pomeranz wins spot in Padres rotation Rea and Erlin remain as candidates for No. 5 job By AJ Cassavell / MLB.com | @AJCassavell | April 1st, 2016 SAN DIEGO -- The Padres cleared up half of their rotation dilemma Friday evening, announcing that left- hander Drew Pomeranz will begin the season as a starter. Pomeranz already had a spot on the roster locked up, but it was unclear whether he'd begin the season as a starter or a reliever. His inclusion in the rotation means the fifth spot will go to either Colin Rea and Robbie Erlin. Manager Andy Green essentially declared Pomeranz's stint in the rotation an experiment before the Padres lost to the White Sox, 5-3. "He showed enough in Spring Training to warrant the opportunity to start," Green said. "It was one of those things that -- once you choose to put him in the bullpen, it's pretty much over, he's a bullpen guy from then on out. "We're taking the opportunity for him to start, to see how he does in the rotation. You ride that as long as possible. If it doesn't work out, he slides to the bullpen." Pomeranz made two Cactus League starts, and he'll get another on Saturday in the club's final exhibition game of the spring. His first two starts could not have been more different. Pomeranz allowed one hit over four innings against the White Sox on March 28, but he allowed six earned over three innings against the Royals on Monday. Obviously the Padres are hoping to get more of the former. How exactly can they get that version? "He's got to consistently step on the gas if he's going to be great," Green said. "... It's not a matter of just pacing yourself all the time. He can pitch with some energy. And when he does, it's really good." Pomeranz's inclusion in the rotation locked up a roster spot for reliever Kevin Quackenbush, and Green confirmed that the right-hander will indeed make the Opening Day roster on Friday. 2 With Quackenbush on board, the Padres still have two spots available in the 'pen. Fernando Rodney, Brandon Maurer, Carlos Villanueva, Matt Thornton and Quackenbush have all assured themselves a place in the relief corps. Quackenbush was sharp for most of Cactus League play, posting a 3.00 ERA in an extremely hitter- friendly environment. In two seasons with the Padres, he has a 3.28 ERA and a 1.172 WHIP. Pomeranz, meanwhile, was 5-6 with a 3.66 ERA last season for Oakland. Forty-four of his 53 appearances came as a reliever. Throughout his career, Pomeranz's splits have been much better as a reliever (2.14 ERA, 1.02 WHIP) than as a starter (4.60 ERA, 1.43 WHIP). But he added a splitter to his arsenal in the offseason, which the club believes could be the key to his success in a starting role. Pomeranz's first start will come either April 8 or 9 in Colorado, where he spent the first three years of his big league career. 3 Kershaw-Ross rekindles storied NL West rivalry By John Schlegel / MLB.com | April 1st, 2016 Familiar foes and division rivals since the National League West was born, the Dodgers and Padres meet to begin the regular season for a second straight year, once again bringing the Opening Day atmosphere to a Southern California rivalry dating back to 1969. When the three-time division champion Dodgers travel down Interstate 5 to Petco Park to open the season with a 4:05 p.m. PT opener against the Padres on Monday, they'll be bringing much the same team that started the season a year ago. The Padres, meanwhile, moved a few key players this past offseason and retooled at several positions. Padres starter Tyson Ross remains a force, and he's making his first Opening Day start, getting the nod over veteran James Shields, the club's starter a year ago. The opposing pitcher is the same -- left-hander Clayton Kershaw, the three-time NL Cy Young Award winner looking to add to his already historic career resume. When the two teams meet for the 10th time on Opening Day, Padres outfielder Matt Kemp will be there for a second opener against his former team. But San Diego made a host of changes this offseason that included closer Craig Kimbrel (Red Sox) and slugger Justin Upton (Tigers) moving to new addresses. The biggest change for the Dodgers will be seen on the top step of the dugout, where Dave Roberts takes over after Don Mattingly moved on to Miami. Roberts was the Padres' bench coach the last two seasons and becomes the 28th manager in Dodgers franchise history, the 15th to both play for and manage the club. While much of the personnel is the same from a year ago, with NL Rookie of the Year candidate Corey Seager the main addition to the everyday lineup, Roberts promises to bring some change -- daily -- by using a variety of lineups. "I think certain guys like Adrian [Gonzalez] and Justin [Turner], they'll be there right in the middle where they're accustomed to being. But outside of that, I think there's going to be a lot of change," Roberts said. 4 "It's never asked of them to change their style of hitting and their approach. But I think regardless of where you hit, the game dictates how you take an at-bat." Meanwhile, many of San Diego's offseason changes will be evident when the Dodgers come to town, including a rookie manager in Andy Green. Alexei Ramirez steps in at shortstop and Jon Jay is in center field for the club that retained first baseman Wil Myers and catcher Derek Norris, also acquired a year earlier along with Kemp. A rotation that boasts a strong top three with Ross, Shields and Andrew Cashner delivering from the right side remains a constant heading into 2016, and Ross looks forward to getting the Padres off to a solid start. "Opening Day, Opening Series, first time on the mound with the lights on -- it's always a lot of fun," Ross said. "It's something that I enjoy every year. It's going to be great to be out there for the first of 162 -- and hopefully more than that." After three games in San Diego, the Dodgers will continue their opening road trip by playing in the Giants' home opener on Thursday before heading to Chavez Ravine for their own home opener on April 12 vs. the D-backs. The Padres follow their season-opening home series by heading to Colorado for the Rockies' home opener on Friday. Dodgers' projected Opening Day lineup: Carl Crawford, LF Yasiel Puig, RF Justin Turner, 3B Adrian Gonzalez, 1B Chase Utley, 2B A.J. Ellis, C Joc Pederson, CF Corey Seager, SS Clayton Kershaw, LHP 5 Cashner sharp early against White Sox By AJ Cassavell / MLB.com | @AJCassavell | April 1st, 2016 SAN DIEGO -- Jose Abreu launched his fifth home run of the spring on Friday night, as the White Sox beat the Padres, 4-3, in an exhibition at Petco Park. San Diego right-hander Andrew Cashner threw an abbreviated outing with the regular season on the horizon. He allowed one run over three innings and threw 25 of his 35 pitches for strikes. Cashner, who was hitting 95 mph with his fastball, will make his regular-season debut Wednesday against the Dodgers. "I liked the way he was today as much as I've liked him at any other time, especially the way he finished up," Padres manager Andy Green said of Cashner. "… I thought his fastball location was as good as its been all spring, and I liked where his sinker was." White Sox starter Mat Latos, a former Padre, tossed four shutout innings before surrendering three runs in the fifth. He lasted 4 1/3 and struck out three while allowing five hits and three walks. "This is the best he's pitched this spring," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said of Latos, who gave up three runs on five hits, while walking three and striking out three. "The biggest thing is he's getting ahead early, keeping it down. Before he was leaving stuff up in the zone that was getting hit hard. If he's keeping it down and utilizing that curveball he becomes tougher." The White Sox opened the scoring in the second when Todd Frazier tripled and came around to score on an RBI ground out.