Howard has knee drained; Phils believe he'll return soon
The Phillies had intended to use this weekend as the beginning of a farewell for Ryan Howard, whose time with the only franchise he's ever known had dwindled to mere weeks. Instead, Howard had his bothersome left knee drained Sunday.
The Phillies had intended to use this weekend as the beginning of a farewell for Ryan Howard, whose time with the only franchise he's ever known had dwindled to mere weeks. Instead, Howard had his bothersome left knee drained Sunday.
The team believes Howard can play again this season, Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said, and they are hopeful he is healthy enough to return by Tuesday. The Phillies are off Monday; they have five remaining games at Citizens Bank Park that bookend a seven-game road trip.
The goal is to play Howard for all three of the home games against New York in the final weekend of the season. Mackanin, for now, is optimistic it can happen.
Howard, 36, has a history of left knee problems. He he also had fluid removed from his knee on Sept. 14, 2015, and missed the remainder of the season. He had left knee issues in 2013, too, and missed the final three months after a procedure to repair a torn meniscus.
And in 2011, he suffered a devastating injury to his left Achilles tendon.
Howard was in the lineup Saturday but was scratched about two hours before first pitch when he informed head athletic trainer Scott Sheridan about the pain in his knee.
He underwent the procedure Sunday, Mackanin said. Howard was not available for comment. He had departed the ballpark when reporters entered the clubhouse after the Phillies' 5-4 loss to Miami.
Rodriguez impresses
The Phillies have lacked competent lefthanded relief all season. That is why Joely Rodriguez, a 24-year-old Dominican who was demoted in April to single-A Clearwater, is seeing big-league action in September.
He impressed again Sunday. Rodriguez inherited runners on first and second with one out in the fifth inning of a one-run game. He fell behind Ichiro Suzuki but induced an inning-ending double play to escape. Then he pitched a flawless sixth inning.
Rodriguez throws 96 mph. That will earn him more looks.
"It's a fact-finding mission," Mackanin said. "I want to find out about Joely because he has really good stuff. Power stuff. If he can throw strikes like he's shown us he can, he can be a part of it next year."
Extra bases
Odubel Herrera is hitting .500 (12 for 24) in his last six games. He's back up to a .285 batting average with a .780 OPS for the season. . . . Freddy Galvis' 51-game streak without an error came to an end. He has two errorless streaks of at least 44 games this season. . . . The Phillies will face James Shields and Chris Sale on Tuesday and Wednesday when the Chicago White Sox visit for the final interleague games of 2016.