SAN FRANCISCO —
For the third time this season, a starting pitcher will make his major league debut for the Padres.
Pedro Avila, a 22-year-old right-hander who last weekend made his Double-A debut, will start Thursday against the Diamondbacks in Arizona.
The Padres will option left-handed reliever Robbie Erlin to make room on the 25-man roster.
Avila went six innings for Amarillo on Saturday, and he is on the Padres’ 40-man roster. Those factors make him a good fit to make a fill-in start as the Padres give Chris Paddack and Matt Strahm an extra day of rest.