Aaron Altherr will miss some significant time (Frank Klose/Sports Talk Philly)
The Phillies received some bad news on Wednesday regarding outfielder Aaron Altherr. Already on the 10-day disabled list for what they thought was a short stay for a pulled hamstring, the Phillies learned that the injury was worse than expected after an MRI revealed a tear. The sprain will mean that Altherr will miss between three and four weeks, leaving the Phillies without one of their most productive hitters into August.
Luckily for the Phillies, Cesar Hernandez returned from the disabled list and took his familiar place at the top of the Phillies lineup, to help negate some of the lost production. Things will get better when Howie Kendrick returns to the Phillies and presumably will slot right back into left field, with Odubel Herrera remaining in center and Nick Williams sticking around to play right field. Williams might have returned to the minors when the Phillies were back to full strength, though his play probably would have created a logjam of sorts. The injury to Altherr means Williams will continue to start in right field.
Altherr suffered the injury running to second base on a double hit Friday evening against the Marlins in Miami. Altherr was batting .228 with 14 home runs and 44 runs batted in, carrying an .898 OPS.
