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Phillies Notes: Phillies' Lee could be available for 'pen duties in Game 4

ST. LOUIS - The Phillies are likely to have an extra weapon from the bullpen for Game 4. Cliff Lee's scheduled day to throw is Wednesday, and instead of doing it in the bullpen hours before the game, the Phillies will leave the door open for him to pitch in relief.

Cliff Lee could be available out of the bullpen in Game 4. (Yong Kim/Staff Photographer)
Cliff Lee could be available out of the bullpen in Game 4. (Yong Kim/Staff Photographer)Read more

ST. LOUIS - The Phillies are likely to have an extra weapon from the bullpen for Game 4.

Cliff Lee's scheduled day to throw is Wednesday, and instead of doing it in the bullpen hours before the game, the Phillies will leave the door open for him to pitch in relief.

"That's an option for us," Charlie Manuel said.

Pitching coach Rich Dubee also confirmed Lee was in play.

"Could be," Dubee said. "We'll see."

The last time Lee pitched in relief was 2007. He's done it only four times in his career. But the Phillies have previously shown a willingness to use starters out of the bullpen on their normal throw day. Roy Oswalt did it during the 2010 National League Championship Series.

The Phillies will start Oswalt in Game 4. Roy Halladay could pitch on short rest, but the Phillies would rather save him for a possible Game 5 on regular rest.

Halladay has started six games on three days' rest in his career but none since 2008. His ERA is 2.79 in those games, and he averaged seven innings per start.

No quit for Oswalt

For years, Oswalt has openly entertained the idea of retiring after his current contract expires following the season. He appears to have changed his mind.

"I'd like to play a while longer, for sure," Oswalt, 34, said. "I feel like I can still compete. When you get to the point where you don't feel like you can compete, that's when you start doubting yourself. But I feel like my stuff is still good enough to compete.

"When I'm healthy, I feel like I can do anything I did when I was 21. I know a lot more about pitching now than I did. I actually have a few more pitches than I did when I first started. I feel like I can do it another three or four, five years."

Oswalt has a $16 million mutual option for 2012.

Extra bases

Bench coach Pete Mackanin has been mentioned as a possible managerial candidate, specifically in Boston, but no team has formally requested to interview him. . . . Manuel admitted that third baseman Placido Polanco is still feeling the effects of a sports hernia injury, which is no surprise. Polanco will require offseason surgery to correct the ailment. "I think it definitely bothers him," Manuel said. . . . Angel Hernandez will be the home plate umpire for Game 4.

at mgelb@phillynews.com or @magelb on Twitter.