Vicente Padilla headed back to DL with bulging disk in neck

After spending mid-April through mid-June on the disabled list with a forearm injury Vicente Padilla returned to post a 1.80 ERA and 52/16 K/BB ratio in his first nine starts, but he’s been knocked around for 12 runs in his last two outings and now he’s been placed back on the DL with a bulging disk in his neck. According to trainer Stan Conte the injury is not likely to require surgery and manager Joe Torre predicted that Padilla “will miss a start, maybe two.” Carlos Monasterios will start in Padilla’s place tonight against the Reds and the 24-year-old rookie has a 3.72 ERA and 34/21 K/BB ratio in 67.2 innings split between the rotation and bullpen.