SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The San Diego Padres announced today they have recalled left-handed pitcher Wade LeBlanc from Triple-A Tucson and optioned right-handed pitcher Pat Neshek to the same Tucson club. LeBlanc is scheduled to start today’s 1:05 p.m. game against the Philadelphia Phillies in his season debut.  Executive Vice President/General Manager Jed Hoyer made the announcement.

LeBlanc, 26, was previously recalled from Triple-A Tucson on April 10 and optioned back to Tucson the following day.  In three starts for the Tucson Padres this season he has posted a 6.87 ERA (14 ER/18.1 IP), a .329 (26-for-79) opponents batting average and 13 strikeouts against just two walks.  The southpaw went 8-12 with a 4.25 ERA (69 ER/146.0 IP) over 26 games, 25 starts, for the Padres last season.  Originally signed as a second-round selection by the Padres in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, LeBlanc has gone 12-16 with a 4.51 ERA (107 ER/213.2 IP) in 40 career games, 38 starts, over parts of three Major League seasons with the Padres.

Neshek, 30, was claimed off waivers by the Padres from the Minnesota Twins on March 20.  In eight games for San Diego this season, the right-hander has gone 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA (2 ER/8.0 IP) and seven strikeouts against five walks.  Originally selected by the Twins in the sixth-round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, he has gone 12-6 with a 3.01 ERA (46 ER/137.2 IP) and 158 strikeouts against 50 walks in 140 career appearances across five Major League seasons with the Twins (2006-08, 2010) and Padres (2011).