Robbie Erlin cannot win a 2019 rotation job these last three weeks of the season. He cannot hold off the youngsters vying for spots just yet.
The 27-year-old veteran can simply continue to state his case.
His latest argument was better.
In a game marked by Adrian Beltre passing George Brett for the most hits ever by third baseman, Erlin struck out six and allowed only two runs – one earned – in 5 1/3 innings in a 4-0 loss that saw his bats quieted by five shutout innings from Texas Rangers rookie Yohander Mendez in snapping the Padres’ three-game winning streak.