Phillies Notes: Victorino stays in top spot

It's not that Jimmy Rollins isn't ready for the leadoff spot. Charlie Manuel would rather just ease him back into the lineup. And when Shane Victorino has been playing the way he has, that's an easy decision to make.

Rollins batted third Tuesday night for the second straight game since returning from the disabled list. It was the first time Rollins batted third in two straight games since Aug. 3-4, 2007.

Rollins could bat third because second baseman Chase Utley missed his second straight game with an illness. Manuel said he took one look at Utley and decided he wasn't ready to return.

"I figured I might as well get him strong," Manuel said. "Leave him alone."

Manuel said Utley saw a doctor Monday night and was not available to hit.

Juan Castro replaced Utley in the lineup Tuesday, making his first start since May 5. Castro injured his left knee in that game and fell behind Wilson Valdez on the depth chart when he became healthy. But Valdez was designated for assignment Monday.

Manuel also started Ben Francisco in left field to give Raul Ibanez a day off. Francisco had not started since April 26 and was sparsely used while on the bench since then.

So it was an unusual lineup against Pittsburgh, beginning at the top.

In 2009, Rollins made just seven starts when he was not in the leadoff hole. Manuel stressed that Rollins will eventually return to the spot, but the manager isn't in any hurry to put him there.

Entering Tuesday's game, Victorino led the majors with 27 RBIs out of the leadoff spot. He was hitting .444 (12 for 27) with a .531 on-base percentage and seven RBIs in his last six games.

Manuel would not say when Rollins could return to the top spot.

"I think Jimmy will tell me and Shane will help dictate that," Manuel said. "Shane's got some big hits and power numbers in the leadoff hole. Jimmy hasn't played a whole lot. We'll let him find his swing. I've always looked at Jimmy as a leadoff hitter."

Could Victorino spend more time as leadoff hitter?

"We'll wait and see," Manuel said.

Entering the game, the Phillies' bullpen had pitched the fewest innings of any team in the majors at 931/3 innings. In May, every Phillies starter has gone at least six innings with the exception of Cole Hamels on May 9, when he pitched five innings.

The only Phillies starter to not pitch at least five innings in a game this season is Kyle Kendrick, who failed to go five twice in April.

Because of the starters' endurance, long man Nelson Figueroa has not pitched in a game since May 3.

"He's our long guy, and the fact that we've had guys go deep, once they go by five innings, they kind of go right by Figgy," Manuel said.

Catcher Brian Schneider, on the disabled list since May 9 with a left Achilles strain, will be ready to return to the active roster when eligible Monday. "Absolutely," Schneider said. "I'm 100 percent." Paul Hoover, who did a fine job filling in for both injured catchers when Carlos Ruiz also went down, will need to be designated for assignment when Schneider comes back. . . . Ryan Howard is tied with Richie Sexson and Alex Rodriguez for most grand slams since 2005, with nine apiece. . . . The Phillies will face a lefthander for the second straight day when Tom Gorzelanny starts for Chicago on Wednesday against Jamie Moyer. . . . Roy Halladay's next start will come Sunday against the Boston Red Sox, a familiar foe for the former Toronto pitcher.