Injury update: Quentin improving, Gyorko inching closer

SAN DIEGO -- Padres manager Bud Black doesn't think he will lose left fielder Carlos Quentin to the disabled list.

Quentin has been out of the lineup since he injured his left shoulder on the follow-through of a swing on Friday, missing the past five games.

Quentin had been on a roll at the plate before the injury, hitting .371 with two home runs and five RBIs in his last 10 games.

"Carlos is doing better, he's feeling better," Black said before Thursday's series opener with the Dodgers. "He's getting closer to hitting in the cage. He feels much better, he's doing fine."

Injured second baseman Jedd Gyorko took some ground balls on the field and hit in the cage Thursday, as he nears his return from the DL with a right groin strain.

Gyorko is eligible to be activated on Tuesday, however, Black wasn't sure if Gyorko would serve a rehab stint in Triple-A. If he does, it might not be more than a couple of games.

Prior to his injury, Gyorko was hitting .284 with eight home runs and 25 RBIs.

"He picked up the activity in San Francisco and picked it up again today," Black said.

Quentin and Gyorko are two of the Padres' five position players from the Opening Day lineup -- shortstop Everth Cabrera (strained left hamstring), first baseman Yonder Alonso (broken bone in his right hand), center fielder Cameron Maybin (torn left knee ligament) -- that are currently injured.