Padres closer Joaquin Benoit threw a side session on Sunday afternoon and is expected to throw one more on Tuesday before a likely activation from the disabled list, MLB.com’s Corey Brock reports. Benoit has been sidelined since August 27 with inflammation in his right shoulder.
It’s unclear if the Padres will ease Benoit back into the closer’s role or simply throw him back into the ninth inning. The club has been on a losing skid, having dropped nine of their last 11 contests. As a result, they haven’t had much need for a closer, but Kevin Quackenbush has racked up a pair while Benoit has been out.
Benoit owns a sterling 1.58 ERA with a 60/14 K/BB ratio and nine saves on the season. He assumed the closer’s role after the Padres sent Huston Street to the Angels on July 19.