SAN DIEGO — Right-hander Mike Clevinger of the playoff-bound San Diego Padres was pulled after only one inning in his start against the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday because of tightness in the bicep tendon area of his throwing arm, according to manager Jayce Tingler.
The team is awaiting the results of an MRI.
Clevinger’s start had been pushed back from Saturday night because of tightness in his right bicep.
Tingler said on Tuesday that the right-hander threw a bullpen session on Monday and seemed good to go for Wednesday afternoon’s start. A few days earlier, Tingler held out hope that Clevinger might even be able to make two more starts before the regular season ended, if even the second one was brief.
Clevinger, obtained in a blockbuster trade with Cleveland on Aug. 31, breezed through the first inning on 12 pitches, including striking out Mike Trout and David Fletcher.
Rookie Adrian Morejon began warming up in the bullpen while the Padres batted in the bottom of the inning and came out to start the second. Morejon allowed a two-run home run to Shohei Ohtani and solo shots to Justin Upton and Anthony Bemboom as the Angels took a 4-2 lead en route to a 5-2 win.
The Padres earned their first playoff berth since 2006 with an 11-inning victory against Seattle on Sunday. They’re 0-2 since then, getting swept by the Angels, and their magic number remains at two for clinching homefield advantage as the NL’s No. 4 seed in the wild-card round next week.
While Clevinger had been the presumed Game 1 starter in the wild-card round starting next Wednesday, that role could now go to Dinelson Lamet.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.