PHILADELPHIA -- Christian Friedrich experienced yet another setback in his long road back to the Padres' rotation. This one could be season-ending.
Throwing a bullpen session -- one of his first since a finger laceration halted his rehab stint -- Friedrich felt tenderness in his left elbow. He will receive tests in San Diego and has been shut down from throwing.
"He's had a rough go, getting ready for this season," said Padres manager Andy Green. "As the days pass and the injuries mount, it becomes less and less likely we're going to see him any time soon."
Initially, Friedrich was shut down during Spring Training with general arm soreness. He was later diagnosed with a lat strain.
While recovering from that, Friedrich began to experience minor elbow soreness, and he didn't resume throwing until late May. A month ago, Friedrich was sent on a rehab stint, but that ended on June 23 when he sustained a blister on his left hand, which eventually became a finger laceration.
"He can't seem to get over the hump," Green said.
Friedrich was one of the Padres' most dependable starters in 2016, leading the team with 23 starts. Some late-season struggles pushed his ERA to 4.80, but he was mostly effective early in the year.
News and notes
• Catcher Austin Hedges returned to the Padres' lineup against the Phillies on Friday after missing two days with neck stiffness. Green said he expects Hedges to catch at least two games this series. But the Padres will wait to assess how he feels Saturday, before playing him in back-to-back games.
• Padres utility infielder Chase d'Arnaud cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A El Paso on Friday. d'Arnaud came to the Padres as a mid-May waiver claim from Boston. He batted .143 over 22 games and was designated when the club recalled Trevor Cahill on Tuesday.
• Lefty reliever Buddy Baumann has made three appearances in the Arizona League, having allowed one earned run and striking out three over 2 1/3 frames. This weekend, he's slated to pitch in multiple innings for the first time since he sustained a shoulder bruise during Spring Training. If that goes well, he could progress to a rehab assignment.