Blanks unlikely to come off DL right away

MILWAUKEE -- First baseman/outfielder Kyle Blanks is eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list Saturday, though he almost certainly will not.

Blanks, who landed on the DL on July 12 with Achilles' tendinitis in his left heel, has been able to take part in some drills and has done some hitting but is still feeling pain.

He is on this 10-day road swing, where he can continue his rehabilitation and also get in on-field work, which has included some short sprints.

But as much as he would like to get back in the lineup, Blanks is being cautious so that he does not re-aggravate the injury by returning too soon.

"It's starting to feel a little better," Blanks said. "But for me, it needs to feel good. Time [off] helps, but there's that time-sensitive nature of missing time. When it first happened, I didn't think much of it. But then it got pretty bad. I want to make sure I'm ready to return."

Blanks missed his ninth consecutive game Wednesday and has not played in a game since July 11. He would most likely need a Minor League rehabilitation assignment before returning to the big league roster.

Blanks was hitting .256 with eight home runs and 34 RBIs at the time of his injury, though he had nine hits in his last 54 at-bats (.167).