"Chase Headley admitted being surprised.

Soon after arriving at Petco Park Tuesday afternoon, Headley noticed his name missing from the starting lineup posted on the clubhouse wall outside the Padres lunchroom.

For the second straight game, Jorge Cantu was starting at third.

Padres manager Bud Black had told Headley Sunday afternoon that Cantu would be starting Monday night's game. But a second straight nigbht off caught Headley by surprise.

"Don't read anything into this," said Black. "Call it a manager's decision. You'll likely see Chase back in there Wednesday afternoon."

However, it's not like Headley to miss two straight games.

Last year, Headley started 156 of the Padres 162 games at third and participated in some fashion in all but one game. He never missed two straight starts. This season, he's already missed two straight starts three times.

Tuesday night marked the seventh time in 30 games that Headley didn't start, although he completely missed only one game.

That was an excused absence because Headley was hit as hard as any Padre by the virus that turned into bronchitis for the soon-to-be 25-year-old.

"I have never been that sick in my life," said Headley. "It wiped out my strength."

The illness coupled with a 2-24 slump that saw his average plummet from .269 to .211 forced Headley to the sidelines earlier. But he is 5-for-13 with two doubles, two RBI, two walks and a stolen base over his last four appearances."