Padres ace Andrew Cashner's simulated game at Petco Park went about as well as anyone could have hoped.
The right-hander threw four innings against a lineup featuring coaches Dave Roberts and Jose Valentin, plus Alexi Amarista and Jedd Gyorko.
Cashner, testing a sore pitching elbow that put him on the 15-day disabled list, threw all of his pitches with no discomfort and allowed four hits, all singles (three by Amarista and one disputed by Roberts.) All in all, it was an encouraging afternoon.
"He threw with effort, he turned it loose and used all his pitches," said Padres manager Bud Black. "He threw close to 70 pitches. All things are looking up."
Depending on how he feels in the next few days, Cashner could come off the DL and be back in the rotation by the weekend.
