Usually durable Venable may not return this year

SAN DIEGO -- Outfielder Will Venable, who has played more games than any other Padres player in 2013, was out of the starting lineup on Monday with an "abdominal situation," manager Bud Black said.

"It's where the hip flexor meets the abdomen, he's a little sore," Black said. "We are going to keep an eye on him for the next 24, 48 hours."

The Padres have just six games left in the season after Monday. Black said he wasn't sure if or when Venable would appear in the lineup again.

The lefty-hitting Venable would have likely been in the starting lineup against the D-backs, especially since Brandon McCarthy, a right-hander, was on the mound for Arizona. Instead, Chris Denorfia started in right field.

Venable has appeared in 146 games this season and leads the team in hits (125), triples (seven), home runs (22) and is tied for the team lead (with Jedd Gyorko ) in RBIs (53).

"It's something he's been dealing with for a couple of weeks," Black said of the injury.