After more than a month on the injured list with shoulder inflammation, right-hander Michael Wacha was activated by the San Diego Padres to start Tuesday night against the Baltimore Orioles.
In a corresponding move, the Padres optioned left-hander Ray Kerr to Triple-A El Paso.
Wacha, 32, was the National League Pitcher of the Month for May, when he posted a 3-0 record with a 0.84 ERA and a .147 opponents' batting average in five starts. His success continued in June, but he has made only one start since June 19 and has been on the injured list since July 2 due to shoulder inflammation.
Wacha is 8-2 with a 2.84 ERA in 15 starts this season for the Padres. In 11 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals (2013-19), New York Mets (2020), Tampa Bay Rays (2021), Boston Red Sox (2022) and Padres, Wacha is 82-52 with a 3.97 ERA in 240 appearances (219 starts).
Kerr, 28, is 1-1 with a 6.28 ERA for the Padres this season and is 1-1 with a 6.98 ERA in 20 appearances with the Padres over his two big league seasons.