Cordero leaves game with sore right elbow

ST. LOUIS -- The one thing capable of cooling down Franchy Cordero's hot start? A sore elbow.

The Padres' outfielder exited in the fifth inning of Saturday's 6-4 victory over St. Louis when he felt soreness in his right elbow after a swing, manager Andy Green said.

It's a worrying sign for the Padres, given Cordero's history. He was shut down last May with bone spurs in that same elbow, and he eventually needed season-ending surgery to repair it. Green said he removed Cordero from Saturday's game as "a precaution."

"He's had a little bit of soreness with it, but that's pretty typical for somebody who's been through what he's been through," Green said. "We're hoping it's not going to be a big deal. He's obviously had tremendous at-bats and has been a big part of winning baseball games for us already. We're hoping he's OK."

Cordero, a five-tool outfielder, has appeared in all nine games this season, either as a starter, pinch-hitter or defensive replacement. All five of his starts have come against right-handed pitching, and he's 5-for-15 on the season with four walks.

The Padres are certainly deep in the outfield, with Wil Myers, Franmil Reyes, Hunter Renfroe and Manuel Margot also competing for playing time. But Cordero is the only left-handed bat in the group, and his versatile skill set makes him incredibly valuable to the club.

If Cordero were to miss any time, it would probably assure Margot of regular playing time in center field, though Myers has also started one game there this season.