Phillies Notes: Asche keeps working in the outfield

Cody Asche tossed his black outfield glove into his locker and walked through the Phillies clubhouse. His gray shirt was drenched in sweat. Cameron Rupp asked Asche if he had gone swimming. Another productive afternoon was complete.

Asche was not in the lineup Saturday against the New York Mets. But he still was one of the first Phillies players on the field. Four hours before first pitch, the third baseman tracked down fly balls in left field.

First-base coach Juan Samuel stood near the infield dirt and sprayed balls to Asche. Samuel, who played some outfield late in his career, offered pointers between slaps of his fungo. The Phillies began teaching Asche outfield fundamentals during spring training. The instructions continued on the team's recent trip.

"He seems to have the moves and the foot speed for it," manager Ryne Sandberg said. "He seems to have a good arm."

Asche could move to the outfield within the next month, once the team decides to promote third baseman Maikel Franco from Lehigh Valley.

Sandberg said it is "yet to be determined" when the team will insert Asche into the outfield during a game. A likely outfield lineup would be Asche in left, Odubel Herrera in center, and Ben Revere in right.

Revere has played right field three times in the last week. He had not played right field since 2012.

Domonic Brown's role is unknown as he remains at Lehigh Valley.

Asche started strong this season. He had 14 hits in his first 40 at-bats. But he has just five hits in his last 42. Franco entered Saturday hitting .342 at triple A. The team likely will wait to promote him until mid-May to push his becoming a free agent until 2020.

Ryan Howard and Chase Utley were both left out of the lineup Saturday night.

Howard was hitting .278 in his last 15 games with six home runs and 13 RBIs. He has struggled in the past against Mets starter Jonathon Niese, which prompted Sandberg to give him the night off. Sandberg said he hoped it would allow Howard to "keep his stroke and stay hot." He pinch-hit in the ninth and flied out to center.

Utley entered Saturday hitless in his last 19 at-bats but came through with a pinch-hit single in the ninth. His batting average dropped to .099 after he went 0 for 4 on Friday. It was the league's lowest mark by 45 points, and 253 points lower than after his first 91 at-bats last season. Sandberg said he had been happy with Utley's at-bats until Friday night.

"He has to just have good at-bats and sting the ball," Sandberg said. "Hopefully, the hits will start coming. Look at it a month from now and see where he could be."

- Matt Breen