Middlebrooks is out of the lineup again Thursday against the Diamondbacks, Zach Buchanan of the Arizona Republic reports. Middlebrooks will receive a second straight day off Thursday, with Yangervis Solarte starting in his place. His slow start to the season overall could lead to more days off in the future, but there's been no indication of a permanent shift at this point.

Middlebrooks is out of the lineup Wednesday, Padres' radio announcer Bob Scanlan reports. This appears to just be a standard day off, as Cory Spangenberg gets the start at the hot corner. Middlebrooks may start seeing more unpredictable playing time with his batting average sitting below the Mendoza Line.

Middlebrooks will be out of the lineup Sunday against the Rockies, Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. Despite his porous .245 on-base percentage on the season, Middlebrooks has more or less maintained a full-time role at third base for the Padres this season. Fortunately, Middlebrooks' struggles have been overshadowed by those of Jedd Gyorko, who has lost more at-bats to hot-hitting super-utility man Yangervis Solarte. The Padres seem inclined to let Middlebrooks work through his slump, but considering that he had just a .284 career OBP coming into the season, his chances of emerging as anything more than a low-end fantasy option at third base appear remote.

Middlebrooks has appeared in all 23 of San Diego's games thus far, making 20 starts at third base. He has gotten off to a slow start with a .222 batting average and 19 strikeouts, but has driven in 11 runs. He has bounced around in the order, mostly sticking in the fifth or seventh slot for the Padres. Middlebrooks' has actually struggled more against left-handed pitching (.211 BA) than right handers (.226), although neither figure is particularly impressive. He is only viable in deeper leagues at this point.

Middlebrooks is out of the lineup Sunday against the Dodgers, Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. Middlebrooks will forgo a start at the hot corner for just the third time in 20 games this season, allowing Yangervis Solarte to take over at third base while Jedd Gyorko returns to the keystone. Chalk this up as a routine maintenance day for the veteran.

Middlebrooks is out of the lineup Thursday, Padres' radio announcer Bob Scanlan reports. Yangervis Solarte will get the start at third base Thursday as Middlebrooks gets an off day against righty Jordan Lyles. It has been a pretty impressive start to the season for Middlebrooks, particularly in the power department. He is slugging .484 with three homers and he also has two steals, which is the most surprising part of his stat line. His previous season high for steals is four in 286 plate appearances in 2012, so it will be interesting to see if he continues to be active on the bases.

Middlebrooks is out of the lineup Friday. He will get his first day off of the season, and make way for Cory Spangenberg to get the start at the hot corner. Middlebrooks is 3-for-18 (.167) with a home run and two RBI so far this season. One cause for concern, however, is that he already has seven strikeouts through four games.

Middlebrooks, who has played exclusively at third base this spring, appears to have the inside track at winning the starting third base job while Yangervis Solarte is more likely to assume a platoon role, the Union-Tribune reports. Middlebrooks is batting .333 with two home runs and seven RBI this spring wile making all of his appearances at the hot corner. Coming into camp it looked like he would have an uphill battle at unseating Solarte for the third base job, but Middlebrooks has played well enough in the field and at the dish to become the likely candidate to win the starting role.

Middlebrooks is batting .364 with two home runs, two doubles, and four RBI in 22 at-bats this spring. Middlebrooks has only played at third base this spring as he continues to compete with Yangervis Solarte for the starting job this spring. It doesn't look like any definitive decisions regarding the third base spot will be made until much closer to opening day with both Solarte and Middlebrooks having strong starts to camp. Jeff Sanders of the Union-Tribune noted that Solarte has been used at three different infield spots this spring, which could mean that Middlebrooks has a slight edge right now.

Middlebrooks went 1-for-3 in his Padres debut Thursday and played third base. Middlebrooks is vying with Yangervis Solarte for San Diego's starting third base job. The former Red Sox third baseman was acquired in December and is in the mix at both corner infield spots, but third base is the likelier landing spot. Solarte is the incumbent, but it appears that Middlebrooks will be given a fair shot at winning the job.