Utley not in Phillies' lineup for Thursday's series finale
Chase Utley is not in the lineup on the final day of the worst April of his career. The veteran second baseman gets Thursday afternoon's game off against Cardinals lefthander and Malvern Prep grad Tim Cooney.
ST. LOUIS --- Chase Utley is not in the lineup on the final day of the worst April of his career. The veteran second baseman gets Thursday afternoon's game off against Cardinals lefthander and 2009 Malvern Prep grad Tim Cooney.
Utley, 36, is hitting a woeful .114, a mark that entered Thursday the worst among 184 qualified major league hitters. Utley has just eight hits in 70 at-bats this season, only three in his 45 at-bats since his two-home run game against at Citi Field on April 14.
While Utley has struggled, he has been somewhat snakebitten on several hard-hit line drive. His batting average on balls in play (BABIP) is a major-league worst .102. The major league average of BABIP entering Thursday's games is .293.
With Utley out of the lineup, Darin Ruf will bat third for just the second time in his career. Ryan Howard moves back to the cleanup spot.
Here is the full Phillies' lineup against Cooney, who is making his major league debut:
1. Odubel Herrera CF
2. Freddy Galvis SS
3. Darin Ruf LF
4. Ryan Howard 1B
5. Jeff Francoeur RF
6. Cesar Hernandez 2B
7. Cody Asche 3B
8. Cameron Rupp C
9. David Buchanan RHP