Phillies Notebook: Switch could position Phillies' top starters for two series with Braves

MIAMI - There really isn't much of a downside, and pitching coach Rich Dubee acknowledged as much yesterday. All the Phillies must do is make one minor change to their rotation and they will have their top three starters lined up to face the Braves in what could be a preview of the postseason when the Phillies host Atlanta from Sept. 20-22 at Citizens Bank Park.

Such a move also would give them the option of pitching Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt at Atlanta's Turner Field in the final three games of the season.

The change? Flip-flop Roy Oswalt and Kyle Kendrick in the rotation later this week, starting Oswalt against the Nationals on Friday on normal rest instead of Saturday on 5 days' rest (the Phillies' off day Thursday makes this possible).

"There's a good chance we might do that," Dubee said before last night's game. "As long as Oswalt is feeling fine, there's a real good chance we'll do it. I talked to him today. He feels like he's doing OK, so we'll see where he is tomorrow."

The change would require Oswalt to pitch on normal rest, something he has done in only 12 of his 29 starts this season, in at least his next two outings. But thanks to another off day the following Thursday, the move could keep alive the possibility of Oswalt facing the Braves with an extra day of rest in the last game of the regular season, when a playoff berth could hang in the balance.

"I don't think there's any downside to pitching Oswalt, Hamels and Halladay," Dubee said. "They are our front three starters. I would think, your two series with the Braves, you'd like your best guys available, if possible."

In the likely setup, Halladay and Hamels would face the Braves twice, with the opportunity to pitch on 5 days' rest in all of those starts. Oswalt would be on normal rest for his first start against the Braves, 5 days' rest if he were needed on the final day of the regular season.

All three pitchers have performed better on 5 days' rest than normal rest this season. Oswalt has a 3.49 ERA on normal rest (12 starts) and a 2.39 ERA on 5 days' (15 starts). Halladay has a 2.88 ERA on normal rest (18 starts) and a 1.38 ERA on 5 days' (10 starts). Hamels has a 3.21 ERA on normal rest (16 starts), and a 2.40 ERA on 5 days' (10 starts).

An MRI exam on Jimmy Rollins' sore right hamstring revealed a mild strain, the Phillies said yesterday. He was hurt running out a double in the third inning of a 10-6 win over the Marlins on Wednesday and was scheduled to fly to Florida last night and rejoin the team today.

Manager Charlie Manuel said the switch-hitting shortstop likely will be available to pinch-hit from the left side of the plate, since the sore hamstring is in his front leg in that situation.

Beyond that, Manuel would not estimate when Rollins, 31, will be back to full health, except to say it likely would not be during this three-game series against the Marlins. Rollins missed about 2 months with a strained calf earlier in the season, and battled a bruised foot later. In 82 games, he is hitting what would be a career-low .245, although he was 5-for-9 in the three games before his injury.

"It's going to be day-to-day, according to what they say," Manuel said.

The Phillies won't have to face Marlins star Josh Johnson, shut down for the season yesterday with a back injury. Johnson, who has held the Phils to one unearned run in 15 innings of two starts this year, was scheduled to pitch tomorrow . . . Ryan Howard had a cameo in Sunday's season finale of the HBO series "Entourage." Howard's twin brother, Corey, also appeared in the scene. . . . Phillies Class A affiliate Lakewood lost to Greenville, 3-1, last night in the best-of-five South Atlantic League championship series opener. *