The Phillies will get a much-needed boost tonight at Citizens Bank Park as they take on the New York Mets tonight as second baseman Chase Utley returns to the team. Utley last played on May 20. Michael Martinez heads to AAA Lehigh Valley to make room for Utley on the Phillies' active roster.
The Phillies lineup should be interesting tonight. Having gotten solid offensive production at the top from both Michael Young and Ben Revere in Utley's absence, along with Domonic Brown emerging as the team's fifth hitter, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel will have an interesting decision to make in where to bat Utley, Rollins, and Brown. If Utley bats his accustomed third, that would leave Utley, Howard, and Brown as three lefties all in a row.
Here's my best guess:
- Rollins
- Utley
- Michael Young
- Howard
- Brown
- Delmon Young
- Ben Revere
- Carlos Ruiz
- Pitcher
I do not think this is the best lineup, but Charlie Manuel has often talked about how he likes to have "speed at the bottom" and Ben Revere there could serve as just that. Manuel would never insult Rollins by having him hit anywhere below third and I think leaving Brown fifth could be a priority, making Utley bat second.
