PADRES UPDATE : NOTEBOOK : Secret on Eiland’s Back is Out; Padres to Place Him on DL

Padres starter Dave Eiland, who was keeping his back injury a secret this season, now faces the possibility that his bid to make the rotation may be over.

The Padres, after learning that Eiland will be unable to pitch for at least a week because of an inflamed back muscle between his right shoulder blade and spine, decided they would put him on the disabled list Friday.

The Padres have yet to announce who will take his place, but reliever Jeremy Hernandez is the logical choice. It will be Hernandez’s third trip to the Padres.

Eiland, who has been pitching with a stiff back the entire season, will be eligible to come off the disabled list May 19. It’s quite likely he will return to the minor leagues for a rehabilitation assignment.

His return may hinge on the success of Jose Melendez, who’s expected to replace Eiland in the rotation and start Tuesday night against Dwight Gooden and the New York Mets.

“I didn’t want to tell them (about the injury),” Eiland said, “because we needed the innings. I’m not going to be a baby and say, ‘I can’t pitch because my back hurts.’ I was hoping I could pitch through it.”

Instead, Eiland struggled this season, going 0-2 with a 7.00 ERA in five starts. He pitched only 18 innings, never lasting past 5 2/3 innings.

He was examined Wednesday by orthopedic specialist Larry Coughlin. The X-rays were negative, but he’ll have to undergo therapy and take anti-inflammatory medication before he can pitch free of pain.

“I was thinking the worst,” Eiland said. “You think, ‘Oh, God, do I need surgery?’ So that was good news. I just want to get back in there.”

Scott, who had seven saves and was yielding a 1.93 ERA at triple-A Las Vegas, will have the opportunity to prove he belongs in the major leagues. He was activated Wednesday, and triple-A outfielder Will Taylor was designated for assignment to make room for Scott on the 40-man roster.

“Last year when I came up, it was just to get my feet wet,” Scott said. “This time, I want to show what I can do. I want to prove myself.”

Padre catcher Dann Bilardello may only be a career .207 hitter, but he quickly is gaining fame in the world of baseball. He was the guest host Sunday night for ESPN’s “Plays of the Week.”

The show begins with Padres Tony Gwynn and Gary Sheffield turning down the opportunity to host the show, and Bilardello eagerly accepting, saying, “You may not recognize me, and if you do, you’re the world’s greatest baseball fan.”

Bilardello ends the show by saying, “Down in Atlanta, they have a guy they call, ‘Prime Time.’ In San Diego, they call me, ‘No time.’ And we’re out of time.”

Said Bilardello: “I had a blast doing it. It’s nice when they get the nobodys to do the show.”