Kyle

Blanks

It’s probably safe to call him day-to-day right now. Kyle Blanks will make the start at first base Monday while Aaron Cunningham will play left field.

Blanks hadn’t played since Tuesday, when he strained his right quad. It’s not clear when he might be able to return to the starting lineup.

Quentin had a meniscus tear repaired and loose cartilage removed. It’s a tough break for the Padres, who surprised many around baseball by acquiring the 29-year-old outfielder from the White Sox during the offseason. Kyle Blanks should benefit in the short-term.

That’s some pretty lousy timing in the wake of Carlos Quentin’s knee surgery earlier this week. But assuming the issue is minor, Blanks remains a good bet to make the Opening Day roster and share playing time with Jesus Guzman in left field.

Blanks needs 4-6 months of recovery time, but should be ready for spring training. Still, this is yet another tough blow for the former top prospect. The 25-year-old has been limited to just 92 games at the big league level since slugging 10 homers and posting an .868 OPS over 172 plate appearances back in 2009.

He was placed on the disabled list on April 14 with what was deemed a shoulder strain at the time, but obviously there was more going on. Blanks’ 2009 season ended due to plantar fasciitis, he missed the second half of 2010 and first half of 2011 following Tommy John surgery, and now he’s looking at another lost season. He was once a top prospect and is still just 25, but his future is now looking cloudy. The Pads do expect Blanks to be healthy for the start of next season.

Quentin was a late scratch from Thursday’s Cactus League lineup, and apparently took an impromptu visit to a knee specialist. It’s a major blow to the Friars, who acquired the 29-year-old outfielder this offseason in a trade from the White Sox. Quentin was already going to take a hit in fantasy value with the move to Petco Park, and this bit of news will drop him down further. Kyle Blanks should see regular early-season action.

Blanks hasn’t played since Sunday due to a sore left shoulder, but it’s apparently not serious. The 25-year-old is expected to share playing time with Jesus Guzman in left field while Carlos Quentin is on the mend following knee surgery.

The Padres had to make a roster move in order to activate Joe Wieland for Saturday’s start. Blanks has been battling this shoulder ailment since early in the spring and appeared to tweak the injury in Friday’s game. Jesus Guzman and Will Venable will continue to draw the starts in the corner outfield spots for the Padres.

The big man took Andrew Kown deep in the fourth inning. Blanks’ name has kind of gotten lost in the shuffle after injury-shortened seasons in 2010 and 2011, but he’s still only 25 and has some upside. He’s currently slated for backup duty, but with the inconsistent Will Venable and the injury-prone Carlos Quentin ahead of him on the depth chart, he could work his way into some playing time.