The Dodgers have placed starting pitcher Vicente Padilla on the 15-day disabled list with right forearm soreness. Padilla has started 4 games for the Dodgers so far this season and he is 1-1 with a 7.06 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. He has allowed 26 hits (5 homers) in only 21 2/3 innings but he has also whiffed 23 batters as he is sending out mixed signals. The Dodgers have not announced who will replace him in the starting rotation but they should make sure Padilla is 100% before activating him because they need him healthy this year.

Veteran starting pitcher Vicente Padilla pitched well for the Dodgers last season earning a new deal with them. But, he has been awful so far this season. Padilla has started 2 games this season and he is 0-1 with a 11.42 ERA and a 2.08 WHIP. He has given up 14 hits (3 homers) and he has walked 4 batters in only 8 2/3 innings. The Dodgers won’t put up with this kind of performance too much longer so Padilla needs to get his act together soon.

The Dodgers have designated Brett Tomko for assignment and he definately deserved to go.  He has pitched in 33 games (15 starts) and he is 2-11 with a 5.80 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP.  In 104 innings this season for the Dodgers Tomko has allowed 124 hits, walked 42 batters and whiffed 79. 

Jason Schmidt, Brett Tomko and Hong-Chih Kuo have been disappointments for different reasons this season.  Jason Schmidt was signed to a big contract in the off season by the Dodgers and he had his season cut short by injury.  He finished the 2007 season with a 1-4 record, a 6.31 ERA and a 1.79 WHIP.  The Dodgers then gave Brett Tomko a chance to replace Schmidt in the rotation but it didn’t work out.  Tomko is now a mop up man in the bullpen due to his 1-7 record, 6.18 ERA and 1.63 WHIP.  The Dodgers also gave young lefty Hong-Chih Kuo a chance in the rotation but he pitched poorly before he injured himself.  He is 1-4 with a 7.42 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP so far this season.

Brett Tomko has pitched pretty badly so far this season.  In 9 games (8 starts), he is 1-5 with a 6.28 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP this season.  In 43 innings, Tomko has allowed 53 hits, 5 homers, walked 20 batters and whiffed 33.  If Tomko doesn’t start pitching better soon, the Dodgers will have to consider demoting him to the bullpen to serve as their long man.