Portland Timbers winger Sebastian Blanco will miss the club's opening MLS Cup Playoff game after sustaining second-degree burns from boiling water this week.

Blanco sustained the burns after spilling boiling water on himself while cooking earlier this week, but continued to participate in training and was originally expected to play in Monday's Western Conference semifinal game against the Houston Dynamo.

But Blanco was dealing with pain from the burns Monday and the Timbers ultimately decided to scratch him from the lineup.

Dairon Asprilla replaced Blanco in the lineup, while Victor Arboleda took Asprilla's spot on the bench.

Blanco recorded eight goals and eight assists for the Timbers in 32 starts this season and had recorded three goals and an assist in the last three games.

Timbers coach Caleb Porter said that the club would have to evaluate Blanco this week to determine whether he would be able to play in the second leg of the series on Nov. 5.

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com

503-853-3761 | @jamiebgoldberg