A few newsy matters before Tuesday night's Phillies-Mets game:
• Rhys Hoskins is out of the starting lineup for the first time this season. Manager Gabe Kapler had been planning a day off for his cleanup hitter and a minor injury to Hoskins' left ankle provided him the opportunity.
Hoskins jammed the ankle sliding into second base in the first inning of Monday night's game. He finished the game and committed a costly error in the 11th inning of a 7-6 loss. An X-ray after the game was negative, but Hoskins reported to the ballpark Tuesday with some swelling in the ankle so Kapler held him out.
"Nobody is concerned," Kapler said. "Nobody is concerned about him long term."
Kapler said Hoskins would be available to pinch-hit Tuesday night and he expected him back in the starting lineup on Wednesday.
"I don't foresee this being any longer than today," concurred Hoskins.
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Hoskins hurt the ankle sliding into second on the back end of a double steal. Noah Syndergaard, the Mets' pitcher Monday night, can be run on. But, in retrospect, Kapler said putting on the play was not a good idea.
"That's on us as a staff," he said. "We'll clean it up."
• With Hoskins out, Maikel Franco moved across the diamond and started at first base.
Scott Kingery started at third base.
With a lefty, Steven Matz, on the mound, Odubel Herrera got his first night off. Right-handed hitting Aaron Altherr started in center field.
The start could end up being a showcase of sorts for Altherr. Roman Quinn is healthy and nearing the end of his rehab assignment at Triple A. To make room for Quinn, the Phillies would likely shed an outfielder and Altherr and Nick Williams are the candidates. Williams can be sent to the minors. Altherr is out of options and could be a trade candidate. Word is the Detroit Tigers like him and could be a fit.
• Kapler said Aaron Nola and pitching coach Chris Young did "a lot of work in that last 12 hours." He added that they detected some mechanical flaws in the pitcher's delivery.
Nola lasted just four innings against the Mets on Monday night and his performance in four starts has been subpar. He has given up 21 hits and 11 walks in 19 1/3 innings. His 7.45 ERA is the highest among qualifying major-league starters.
Kapler, who has cited command as Nola's biggest issue, would not say what mechanical flaws were detected and Nola was not available for comment. The right-hander pitches Saturday night in Denver.
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