PADRES UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / BOB NIGHTENGALE : Harris to Miss at Least a Start, Might End Up on Disabled List

SAN FRANCISCO —  Padre pitcher Greg Harris, diagnosed as having tendinitis in his right elbow, will miss at least one start, from all indications, and could be placed on the 15-day disabled list.

Harris, who complained of a tender elbow last season when he was overused in the bullpen, appearing in 73 games, is scheduled to travel back to San Diego today to undergo further exmainations.

Harris, who felt the pain while warming up Monday night, was examined again Tuesday night by an orthopedist, but the Padres did not reveal the prognosis.

“We don’t think it’s that serious,” said Joe McIlvaine, Padre general manager. “Sometimes, in cases like this, the best thing for him is rest. We think he’ll be all right.”

Privately, however, it’s a much different story. Sources say the Padres are worried that they might have to place Harris on the disabled list and call up a starter from triple-A Las Vegas.

“I really don’t know what’s going to happen,” Harris said. “But I know I don’t feel any better today, that’s for sure.”

Harris, who acknowledged Tuesday that he has had a history of elbow problems in the minor leagues, said he never has endured this type of pain.

“Before, I could always pitch through it,” Harris said. “But (Monday) night, there was just too much pain. I couldn’t believe it. I don’t anticipate having to going on the DL, but I think it’s better to be cautious.”

The Padres have three days off in the next 13. They would need a fifth starter only April 30 for their first game against the Mets in New York.

“We might have to bring up a young starter to get his feet wet,” McIlvaine said. “Sometimes it’s better for a young pitcher to get the jitters out. We’ll evaluate it further, and see what happens.

“It’s not as significant early in the year, with the off days, as it would be later in the year.”

The Padres are considering calling up one of three candidates to replace Harris if he goes on the disabled list: Adam Peterson, Ricky Bones or Derek Lilliquist. If Harris is not forced to go on the disabled list, Mike Maddux likely will make an emergency start.

“Let’s just wait and see,” McIlvaine said, “I don’t want to speculate right now.”

Padre pitcher Rich Rodriguez, who drastically improved in his past two outings, said the difference can be explained in the eyes.

“I left my contact lenses at home when I went to spring training,” Rodriguez said, “and I never got another pair. It didn’t bother me at all during the day games, but at night, I really had trouble seeing the catcher’s signs.”

After yielding seven hits and three earned runs in 3 2/3 innings in his first two outings, Rodriguez decided he’d better do something quick, or he’d be down in Las Vegas pitching in the minors.

He ordered a new prescription of contact lenses, and voila! He hasn’t exactly torn up the league, but he has improved. Darryl Strawberry’s home run is the only earned run he has allowed in his past 3 1/3 innings.

“It makes all the difference in the world,” Rodriguez said. “Watch, and see.”

Giant second baseman Robby Thompson, on hitting for the cycle Monday night against the Padres: “It would have been more satisfying if we had won, but I’m not going to walk around here and pretend I don’t think it’s special. It’s something I’ve never come even close to in the past, and may never do again.”

Thompson is the seventh Giant to hit for the cycle: Chris Speier, July 9, 1988; Candy Maldanado, May 4, 1987; Jeffrey Leonard, June 27, 1985; Dave Kingman, April 16, 1972; Jim Ray Hart, July 8, 1970; and Don Mueller, July 11, 1954.

How many Padres have accomplished the feat in their 23-year history, you ask?

None.

Giant pitcher Bud Black, the San Diego State alumnus who signed a four-year, $10 million contract in the off-season, has been everything the Giants had hoped. Although he is 1-2, he owns a 2.35 ERA and is yielding a .175 batting average. . . . The Padres will play the final game of their three-game series against the Giants at 12:35 today. Ed Whitson (1-1) and John Burkett (1-1) are the scheduled starters. The Padres are off Thursday, and then will begin a four-game series beginning Friday in Philadelphia in the first of 18 consecutive games against the Eastern Division.