Expect Adam Morgan's demotion and Vince Velasquez's return

MINNEAPOLIS - The Phillies would not announce it yet, but Pete Mackanin said he had a decent idea of what he will do Monday, when Adam Morgan's next turn in the rotation comes.

Expect Vince Velasquez to rejoin the staff as Morgan's replacement.

"It's still up in the air," Mackanin said. "It's not definite."

That is because the manager's pitching corps is disheveled. Andrew Bailey, who suffered a strained left hamstring in a loss Wednesday night, has an uncertain status. He tested the injury before Thursday's game. Bailey does not believe he will need to go on the disabled list, but he could be sidelined for a few days.

Even so, the Phillies will likely summon at least one reliever Friday from triple-A Lehigh Valley to bolster a fatigued bullpen. Mackanin turned to Severino Gonzalez, who began the season at double-A Reading, for three key outs in Thursday's 7-3 win over the Twins.

"That was our only option with our bullpen," Mackanin said. "He did a great job. He's throwing a lot harder than I've seen in the past."

That could keep Gonzalez in the majors. Morgan, however, is probably headed back to the minors. If the Phillies deem Velasquez ready, they could demote Morgan to gain a reliever for a few days until Velasquez is activated. He threw 74 pitches for double-A Reading on Wednesday.

"The reports were good," Mackanin said. "He was free and easy, throwing all his pitches."

Still, team officials huddled Thursday to decide whether another rehab start was best for Velasquez. The young pitcher injured his biceps on June 8 and has missed three starts. Zach Eflin, who starts Friday, took Velasquez's spot.

The Phillies, it appears, will opt for a longer look at Eflin. Morgan has a 6.55 ERA in 11 starts this season, and the 26-year-old lefthander may benefit from a reset. He gained velocity on his fastball, but that has resulted in less control.

Either way, fresh arms will arrive this weekend. They are needed.

"We're in a holding pattern right now," Mackanin said.

Freddy Galvis' five RBIs were a career high. . . . Andres Blanco, inserted at first base because Tommy Joseph was ill, made his second career start there. He crushed two more doubles. Sixteen of his 32 hits this season are for extra bases. . . . After seeing San Francisco's Jake Peavy on Friday, the Phillies will oppose two of the league's best starters in consecutive days at AT&T Park: Madison Bumgarner and Johnny Cueto.