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Ryan Howard back in Phillies lineup against righthander

When Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard isn't in the lineup against righthanders, it makes news. When he is in the lineup, it also makes news.

On Monday, he was penciled into the Phillies lineup against Washington Nationals righthander Tanner Roark and manager Pete Mackanin explained his rationale. This came a day after Mackanin started Tommy Joseph against righthander John Lackey, the second time since Joseph has been with the team that he started and Howard sat against a righty. Joseph joined the Phillies on May 13 when he was called up from triple-A Lehigh Valley.

After a 7-2 loss to the Cubs in Chicago on Sunday, Mackanin reiterated that Joseph would receive more playing time against righthanders.

Mackanin said more of the same Monday when discussing the situation before the game against the Nationals at Citizens Bank Park.

On Sunday, "I said was going to start mixing in Joseph against some righthanders, I didn't say I was going to bench Howard," Mackanin said before the game. "Howard has good numbers against this guy \[Roark\] and he has bad numbers against Lackey."

Entering Monday's game, Howard was 4 for 12, with a double, home run and six RBIs against Roark and 3 for 16 with two solo home runs and nine strikeouts against Lackey.

Asked if Joseph would be in the lineup Tuesday against righthander Joe Ross, Mackanin said he would make his decisions day to day.

Howard entered the game hitting .154, including .097 (6 for 62) this month.

"I know Howie hasn't swung the bat well the whole month, but I know he is better than what we are looking at," Mackanin said. "I am hoping every time he goes out there he will get three or four hits and get back to where we think he can be."

Asche update

Leftfielder Cody Asche, who suffered a rib cage muscle injury early in spring training and then reinjured it, could find his way back to the Phillies soon.

Asche has been on a rehab assignment since May 13. Major-league rehab assignments for position players can last 20 days. June 1 would conclude the assignment.

Then the Phillies would have to make a decision on the veteran.

When asked if Asche could be called up soon, Mackanin said, "It is a possibility."

Asche began his rehab at single-A Clearwater, moved to double-A Reading and is now Lehigh Valley. He hit a home run Monday in a 6-4 win over Norfolk and is batting .188 for the IronPigs.

Extra bases

Aaron Nola (4-3, 2.86 ERA) faces Washington's Joe Ross (4-4, 2.52) on Tuesday in a matchup of impressive young righthanders. It will be the third time this season that Nola, 22, will be facing the Nationals. He is 0-1 with a 5.25 ERA in 12 innings against them. … Ross, 23, won his only game this year against the Phillies, limiting them to three hits over 7 2/3  innings in a 9-1 win on April 15 at Citizens Bank Park. … To commemorate Memorial Day, the Phillies and all MLB team wore special hats and uniforms honoring military personnel who died in the service of their country.