WASHINGTON – Ryan Howard, now officially relegated to a reserve role with the Phillies, is expected to return to the starting lineup as designated hitter when the team opens a quick, two-game series in Toronto against the Blue Jays on Monday night.
“I’ll probably DH Howie,” manager Pete Mackanin said after Saturday’s 8-0 loss to the Washington Nationals.
On Friday night, Mackanin said Tommy Joseph was now the team’s regular at first base (see full story)
Joseph is hitting .319 with seven homers and 12 RBIS in 22 games since joining the big club. Howard is hitting .150 with nine homers and 20 RBIs in 52 games.
Mackanin said he would get Howard playing time with pinch-hitting assignments and spot starts. The coming interleague series in Toronto will allow Howard to get some at-bats. The Jays are scheduled to throw knuckleballer R.A. Dickey and right-hander Marcus Stroman. The Phils will counter with Jerad Eickhoff and Zach Eflin. The latter will make his big-league debut.
