Phillies Get Much-Needed Break
Turns out there is rest for the weary. The Phillies earned a little bit of that by virtue of their division-clinching 8-0 victory over the Nationals on Monday night.
Now the Phils won’t have to worry about overstressing the arms of Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels in a weekend series against the Braves and can prepare them for the National League Division Series. Now the Phils can let Jimmy Rollins ease his way back into the lineup. Now the Phils can let Placido Polanco get another cortisone shot in his left elbow and get some much-needed time off.
In other words, there’s a major benefit to having both the NL East and the best record in the league wrapped up with five games left. The Phils won’t have to overextend Oswalt in his start Tuesday night, likely using the final few days of the season to get their big three on track.
Rollins’ return will be one to watch both in Washington and Atlanta. He appeared ready to go Monday, but manager Charlie Manuel held him out of the lineup because of the rain. Rollins has been out since Sept. 8 with hamstring soreness.
Polanco has been playing with bone chips in his left elbow for much of the season and has seen his batting average drop off to .298 after leading the league in the category in August. The Phils can use Wilson Valdez and Greg Dobbs at third base if Polanco needs a rest, which could be prompted by another cortisone shot in that elbow.
The lineup for Tuesday night is certainly indicative of a team that is giving a lot of guys rest. Rollins makes his return to not just the lineup but the lead-off spot.
Game preview
When: 7:05 p.m.
Where: Nationals Park, Washington
TV: CSN
Radio: AM-1210
Phillies starter: Roy Oswalt (13-13, 2.80)
Nationals starter: Jason Marquis (2-9, 7.18)
Lineup
SS Jimmy Rollins
LF Raul Ibanez
2B Chase Utley
1B Ryan Howard
CF Ben Francisco
RF Domonic Brown
3B Greg Dobbs
C Brian Schneider
P Roy Oswalt
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