SAN DIEGO -- Padres righty Erik Johnson has been diagnosed with a flexor strain in his right elbow and will be out 3-6 weeks, according to manager Andy Green.
Johnson was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday and will be shut down for three weeks before being re-evaluated. Johnson is the second Padres pitcher this season to go down with a flexor strain, with Cesar Vargas moving to the 60-day disabled list on Friday with the same condition.
"I didn't get a real in-depth report measured against Vargas' injury to know which one was more severe," Green said, "but it's definitely like, 'Sit tight for a few weeks, get treatment, therapy, start building it back up.'
"[We will] probably re-evaluate him here in a few weeks and find out where he is before he starts throwing."
Johnson struggled in his first four starts with the Padres, posting a 9.15 ERA while allowing nine home runs in 19 2/3 innings. Johnson felt discomfort when throwing a curveball in the last inning of his start on Tuesday against the Orioles.