Phillies Notebook: Phillies await word on Utley

MILWAUKEE - Together, they represent the foundation upon which this current powerhouse was built: Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley. Last night, in the first of a four-game series that has been billed as a potential NLCS preview, none of them was in the lineup.

But while Rollins and Howard were both present at Miller Park and ready for action if called upon, Utley's absence underscored the uncomfortable uncertainty the Phillies face with regard to their star second baseman.

The decision to keep him in Philadelphia for a round of concussion testing was made shortly after their victory over the Braves on Wednesday, which capped off a three-game sweep and all but secured their fifth consecutive NL East title. The game ended with Utley in the clubhouse suffering from headaches, the effect of an Eric O'Flaherty pitch that hit him in the back of the batting helmet during the sixth inning.

The only certainty is that Utley will not play this weekend against the Brewers. He was examined by concussion specialist Rob Franks at the Rothman Institute yesterday, but will not undergo the computerized neurological exam known as ImPACT testing until tomorrow.

"Am I concerned about it? Of course," manager Charlie Manuel said. "What can I do about it? Not a damn thing. Do I care? Yeah. I want to put our best team on the field every day I possibly can, and when we get guys hurt, I don't like it. I've said that before. At the same time, there's nothing I can do about it. And there's nothing 'Ut' can do about it, really."

The Phillies learned last season about the unpredictability of head injuries when catcher Carlos Ruiz was hit in the head with a bat during a late-June game against the Twins. The initial thought was that he would only miss a few days, but a few days turned into a stint on the disabled list, which turned into a 3-week absence. Ruiz' initial symptoms included nausea and dizziness. Yesterday, the Phillies did not provide any more information on Utley's symptoms, saying they would know more on Saturday.

Until then, they won't have a good idea about when their regular lineup will be back together.

"My understanding is you have to wait 2 days until after a concussion to do the ImPACT test," said assistant general manager Scott Proefrock. "So he's unlikely to play this weekend, and beyond that we'll just have to wait and see what the doctor says."

Howard and Raul Ibanez were given the night off against Brewers lefty Chris Narveson, allowing Manuel to start the righthanded-hitting John Mayberry Jr. at first base and Ben Francisco in leftfield. Although both players have been battling lingering injuries - bursitis for Howard and a groin strain for Ibanez - they were available to pinch-hit and are expected to be in the lineup tonight.

Howard entered the game having reached base in 19 of his previous 49 plate appearances, with five home runs, while Ibanez was 14-for-37 with four doubles and two home runs in his previous 10 games.

Rollins was activated from the disabled list yesterday after having been sidelined since Aug. 21 with a groin strain. Although the shortstop did not start, he was available to play, and judging by his performance in pregame fielding practice appears close to returning to the lineup.

Third baseman Placido Polanco has been battling a sports hernia that likely will require offseason surgery, but he has played well since returning from the disabled list. Entering last night, he was hitting .295 with a .341 on-base percentage in 19 games while playing solid defense.

The biggest unknown, then, is Utley. After missing most of the first 2 months with a knee condition, the second baseman hit .286, with a .376 on-base percentage and .493 slugging percentage, with eight home runs, in his first 57 games. But in his last 31 games, he has hit just .223/.289/.354 with two home runs. Overall, he is hitting .262/.344/.441 with 10 home runs in 347 at-bats.

The last time in which Utley, Howard and Rollins all were out of the starting lineup were the final games of the 2008 and 2009 seasons, when the Phillies already had clinched division titles. Prior to that, it was Sept. 12, 2004.

Despite their current number of nagging injuries, don't expect the Phillies to make any wholesale additions to the roster once Triple A Lehigh Valley is eliminated from the International League playoffs, which began last night after a rainout.

Even with three starting infielders sidelined last night, the Phillies still had utility man Pete Orr and first basemen/outfielders Ross Gload and John Bowker on the bench.

"Maybe a couple more," Proefrock said. "It gets a little crowded. Plus, they are in the playoffs. I don't know what the usage of the bullpen is, but some of those guys haven't pitched in a week. I don't think there is necessarily a lot of work to go around. And again, it can be unwieldy. More [batting practice] to throw, more bullpens to throw - there's a lot more to do. And quite frankly, we're getting ready for the postseason. We're not getting ready for spring training."

One player who could get a call-up is righthander Justin DeFratus, who has pitched well for the IronPigs and is viewed as a potential bullpen piece in the future.

Zach Collier, a supplemental-round draft pick in 2008 who has struggled to live up to his potential, was suspended 50 games for testing positive for an amphetamine. The 21-year-old outfielder hit .255 with one home run at low-A Lakewood this season. The suspension will begin at the start of next season.

Daily News statistician Bob Vetrone Jr. contributed to this report.