Padres' Manuel Margot: Could return to game action Thursday

Margot (knee) could return for five innings of Cactus League action on Thursday.

Analysis:

He is scheduled for a light day of backfield at-bats Tuesday, with the hope he can progress to game action before the weekend. Margot still has time to get enough game action in to avoid a DL stint at the start of the season, but he can't afford any further setbacks. Allen Cordoba received the start in center field Tuesday, providing a glimpse of the Padres' backup plans, given the fact that Alex Dickerson (back) will be out until at least mid-April.