LOS ANGELES —
In the midst of two of his earliest appearances this season, Craig Stammen acknowledged a shift in the Padres bullpen.
The pitcher who has faced more batters in late-and-close and high-leverage situations than anyone in the major leagues this season is fine with a new role.
“It’s got to be cool,” Stammen said. “… I want to keep playing as long as I possibly can. I want to be here when this team wins the World Series. So is my best role the eighth inning? It might be some nights. But it might be with guys on first and second in the fifth or sixth inning or something like that.