Phillies Notes: Franco sits out with sore elbow

Maikel Franco stretched with his teammates before batting practice, per usual, Tuesday afternoon and shagged fly balls in the outfield while his fellow position players took their hacks.

But for the first time since his May 15 promotion from triple-A Lehigh Valley, Franco did not play. The Phillies' rookie third baseman was given Tuesday night off after experiencing right elbow soreness late in Monday's win.       He could sit out Wednesday's matinee, too, mostly as a precaution ahead of an off day Thursday.

"It's just a day-to-day thing," interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "I think he's going to be fine."

Franco said his elbow felt better Tuesday. The 22-year-old Dominican was under the impression he was available to pinch-hit. The soreness was a hindrance Monday only when throwing, he said.

Franco left Monday's game after eight innings, two frames after making an inning-ending diving stop and throw on a ground ball by Tampa Bay's Tim Beckham.

In the seventh, Franco felt something in his elbow as he threw high and over first baseman Darin Ruf's head on a routine Evan Longoria grounder.

"[It's] getting better," Franco said before Tuesday's game. "Today when I came in, I felt my arm and [it's] a little better. I just went to the training room right away and [head athletic trainer Scott Sheridan] told me it's getting better, too."

Mackanin said he had planned to give Franco a day off in this series even before Monday.

The reigning National League rookie of the month had started each of the Phillies' 59 games since joining the team, missing only a few innings. He is hitting .283 with 10 home runs and an .818 on-base-plus-

slugging percentage.

Andres Blanco started at third base Tuesday.

Although the Phillies discussed bumping him up a day, Cole Hamels will remain in turn and start Saturday at Wrigley Field. Jerome Williams will rejoin the rotation for the series opener Friday.

If the Phillies stick with their four-man rotation through the July 31 trade deadline, Hamels will then be in line to start July 30 against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park.

With Franco sidelined, Cesar Hernandez became the sixth player to bat third for the Phillies this season. ... Chase Utley was named this year's Phillies recipient of the Heart and Hustle Award. The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association honors one player from each club. This is Utley's sixth selection.

- Jake Kaplan