Phillies Notes: Kendrick says he wasn't worried about starting Saturday

The way Kyle Kendrick talks, there was little doubt in his mind he would be starting Saturday's game.

"It wasn't like I was excited like a little kid," Kendrick said. "I expected to start. That's who I am. I'm going to go out and win a game."

The way Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee talks, there was little doubt in his mind who would be starting Saturday's game.

"Was there a debate?" Dubee asked rhetorically. "There were minor discussions."

So why wait until Friday before officially naming Kendrick as the starter for Saturday? Dubee said the team had its reasons. One of them, he said, was in case Kendrick was needed in the bullpen during the week.

Turns out he wasn't. After Kendrick threw a light bullpen session at Citizens Bank Park on Thursday's off-day, Dubee told the righthander he was starting.

Charlie Manuel noted Kendrick's last outing at Citi Field - a solid 62/3 innings on Aug. 15 when he allowed one run in a 3-1 victory against the Mets.

"Basically, it came down to the fact he won here last time and he pitched OK," the Phils' manager said. "He pitched pretty good."

Of course, since then, Kendrick has made four starts and none of them have been decent. He has a 7.84 ERA in his last 202/3 innings. The Phillies are 1-3 in those games.

The other option was rookie righthander Vance Worley, who has made one major-league start. It came in last Monday's doubleheader against the Marlins. Worley was effective in five innings, but the Phillies chose familiarity.

Dubee said the team had an idea it would go with Kendrick all week, but should he suffer another horrible outing, the decision could be more complicated next time around. After Saturday, the Phillies will likely need a fifth starter just two more times this season.

A confident Kendrick believes he can be the guy.

"If I go out and pitch well, that'll take care of itself," Kendrick said. "What they decide is out of my control. I'm not really worried about it."

Jimmy Rollins was not available Friday after injuring his right hamstring Wednesday. Manuel said it was likely the shortstop wouldn't play Saturday either.

"I'm leery of him running," Manuel said.

The manager said Rollins remains day-to-day and the Phillies are describing the injury as tightness in the hamstring. The relief is that it's not Rollins' calf, which caused him to miss 56 games earlier this season.

Rollins did not comment Friday. He did take batting practice and did some fielding drills at shortstop.

"It's getting better," Manuel said. "I guess."

An erroneous report surfaced late Thursday that Placido Polanco has been playing with a broken elbow.

Polanco did a Spanish-language phone interview with the Associated Press and said he was misquoted. Polanco was peeved upon hearing about the report.

"How could I be playing with a broken elbow?" Polanco said Friday.

He has been playing with bone spurs in his elbow for most of the season and said a month ago he will likely need off-season surgery.

Brad Lidge said he was ready to pitch Friday after successfully playing catch with Dubee on Thursday. The closer said he felt good and wasn't worried about the hyperextension in his elbow that caused him to miss two games. "It shouldn't be a problem," Lidge said, "as long as I don't try to overthrow." . . . Domonic Brown (strained right quad) took batting practice and said he hopes to be ready for Saturday's game, if needed. . . . Righthander Danys Baez was activated from the disabled list after missing 15 days with back spasms. Manuel said it is possible Baez could help in the sixth or seventh innings. . . . The Phillies and single-A Lakewood BlueClaws extended their partnership through the 2012 season. The teams made the announcement Friday night.