Phillies' Ryan Howard may return to lineup soon

ATLANTA - Ryan Howard traveled with the Phillies to Atlanta on Thursday and occupied his normal corner stall in the Turner Field visitors clubhouse before Friday night's series opener against the Braves. The 35-year-old first baseman did not play for the third straight game, but he could return to the field soon.

Barring a setback, interim general manager Scott Proefrock said Friday he thinks Howard, who sustained a left knee contusion on Monday, will play before the end of the team's nine-game road trip. Howard could even pinch-hit during this weekend's series against in Atlanta, the first leg of the three-city trip.

"He's much better," Proefrock said. "His range of motion is almost back to normal."

Earlier in the week, it was unclear whether Howard would return over the season's final two weeks. After exiting Monday's game, his knee swelled to the point where he visited the emergency room to get it drained. A Tuesday MRI came back negative.

Before Friday's game, Howard's knee was still wrapped up as he walked around the clubhouse. He played catch with longtime teammate Carlos Ruiz before the team took batting practice.

"It's better than expected I think," interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "He's going to start moving around a little bit and then we'll just play it by ear and see how he adjusts or how he reacts."

Howard, who has one more year remaining on the five-year, $125 million contract extension he signed in April 2010, is batting .229 with 23 home runs and 77 RBI this season. His mighty struggles against lefthanders have made him a platoon player at this stage in his career, with the right-handed hitting Darin Ruf handling southpaws.

Ruf, 29, has manned first base in Howard's stead since the injury. He batted cleanup on Friday. He went into the game with a 1.080 OPS against lefthanders but a mere .421 OPS against righthanders.

Lefthander Jesse Biddle will seek a second opinion on his pitching elbow in the coming weeks. The former first-round draft pick out of Germantown Friends was shut down in late August nine starts into his tenure in triple A. He has already seen team physician Michael Ciccotti. The Phillies will determine a plan of action after Biddle, 23, gets the second opinion. ... Aaron Altherr batted second for the first time on Friday. Over only 22 major-league starts this season, the outfielder has already batted second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth.