Pelfrey Up, Milledge Down, Padilla Gone

As expected, Lastings Milledge was sent down to AAA New Orleans to make room on the roster for fifth starter Mike Pelfrey, who is making his first start of the year against the Nationals on Friday night.

Not expected was the bad news of Juan Padilla, who was diagnosed with a torn flexor tendon in his reconstructed elbow and will need surgery. Padilla’s remarkably quick comeback from Tommy John surgery seems to have taken its toll, and this latest setback most likely shelves him for the rest of 2007. Tough break for Padilla, who is fun to watch and the kind of guy you like to root for. It’s also another depletion from the Mets’ bullpen, which has already lost Duaner Sanchez for the year.