The San Diego Padres have 11 pitchers competing for rotation spots in camp and may use a unique strategy to maintain flexibility.

The Padres may go through an opposing lineup approximately once with a certain starting pitcher. Then they might replace him with another starter -- preferably of a different handedness -- in the early innings.

"It's well within intelligent thinking to say, you know what, let's flip this and take advantage of it," Andy Green said. "Let's force them to make a decision. At least it's something else they've got to think about."