Padres place Nestor Cortes on the 15-day IL with left bicep tendinitis, casting doubt on the rotation as they push to rebound. Randy Vásquez is called up to start Saturday against Colorado, while Sean Reynolds is optioned to El Paso. San Diego has struggled mightily, going 2-8 in their last 10 while posting a 5.40 team ERA in that stretch. The club trails the Dodgers by two in the NL West, who themselves dropped a game to Baltimore, keeping the gap firm. The Padres finish the Rockies series and then host L.A. next Thursday as Vásquez incubates a hopeful spark for the rotation.

In this high-stakes sprint, every turn of the rotation matters for fantasy contending lineups. Cortes’ injury adds risk to a Padres team that must navigate late-season form and pitching depth. Vasquez’s spot start is a critical test for the club’s internal options as they chase wins to trim the Dodgers’ lead and salvage a once-promising year.