D-Backs notebook: Rotation altered for S.D. series

San Diego - Like San Diego, the Diamondbacks understand the importance of every game between the two teams down the stretch.

D-Backs give NL West lead to Padres, 3-1

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As the Padres worked to get National League ERA leader Chris Young into this series (he starts tonight), the D-Backs have tweaked their starting rotation to give Livan Hernandez one more game against San Diego.

Hernandez will start on three days’ rest Friday against Colorado, a move that will enable him to face the Padres on his normal four days’ rest Wednesday, the final regular season meeting between the teams.

He is 0-4 with a 5.23 ERA in four career starts on three days’ rest.

The D-Backs also announced that Dana Eveland will be recalled and start Saturday to replace Yusmeiro Petit, who will move to the bullpen after giving up 20 earned runs in his past 17 2/3 innings.

“This gets us where we need to get,” manager Bob Melvin said of the alterations. “With the San Diego series, that’s the way it matches up.”

Hernandez is 10-4 against the Padres in his career, 1-2 this season despite giving up only two runs in a 3-1 loss to Jake Peavy on Monday.

The D-Backs have an off day next Thursday, one of their four off days in September, and would not need a fifth starter again until Sept. 11.

Eveland, 1-0 with a 1.95 ERA in Tucson, has given up only one run in 11 innings since returning from a partially torn tendon sheath on the middle finger of his throwing hand suffered May 8. He gave up three runs in 1 1/3 innings in two late April games with the D-Backs.

LEFTY EVELAND RIGHT GUY

Eveland, a candidate for the starting rotation spot won by Micah Owings this spring, was chosen over Edgar Gonzalez to replace Petit.

“When we acquired him, we thought that he had a chance to be a starter this year,” D-Backs general manager Josh Byrnes said.

The D-Backs weighed several factors, not the least of which was Eveland’s statistical advantage against left-handed hitters in the minor leagues. Lefties Todd Helton and Brad Hawpe are two of the Rockies’ most productive hitters, and both are less effective against lefties.

Hawpe’s splits are dramatic. He is hitting .316 against right-handed pitchers and .184 against lefties.

Gonzalez, 6-2, is not stretched out. He has not started since June 26 and has not thrown more than 54 pitches in a game since.

BUTLER’S STROKE RELATED TO CANCER TREATMENT

Mobile manager Brett Butler said doctors told him that radiation treatment for throat cancer 11 years ago caused his July 27 stroke.

“One of the arteries on the right side of my neck was a little skinnier that the others and the radiation treatment from my throat cancer produced some scar tissue, which led to the stroke. It’s extremely rare,” Butler told the Mobile (Ala.) Press-Register.

Matt Williams will finish out the season as interim manager in Mobile.

Butler, who had 2,375 hits and 558 stolen bases in a 17-year major league career, said doctors told him recovery time is about six months.

SHORT HOPS

Byrnes said it is likely “six or seven” players will rejoin the D-Backs when rosters expand Sept. 1, a group that will include Carlos Quentin, Robby Hammock and Alberto Callaspo. Callaspo, hitting .359 in Tucson, missed the previous 10 days with a hamstring injury. “We hope he can play a few games (in Tucson) before he comes up,” said Byrnes, who added that Callaspo would be a candidate to make spot starts at third base when he returns. …

Tony Clark will start at first base today, Melvin said. Clark is 3-for-5 with three home runs and four RBIs against Young. Clark’s Sunday concussion is not an issue, Melvin said.