Hunter Pence has a strained patellar tendon in his left knee, according to Phillies assistant general manager Scott Proefrock. Pence was diagnosed after an MRI on Wednesday and was not in the starting lineup for that nights game against Washington.
Its a mild strain, Proefrock said. Hes day-to-day. Hes likely to play sometime over the weekend.
Pence has experienced patellar tendinitis at times in his career. Proefrock said Pence exacerbated the condition running to first base on an infield hit Tuesday.
Pence continued to downplay the issue Wednesday afternoon. If it was up to him, he would not miss an inning.
Its just something that flared up, he said. Ill be fine. I feel good. Ive had this before and I can play on it. I could play today, but were trying to make the best decision and we feel this is best. I should be back soon.
Pence said he was available to pinch hit on Wednesday night, but it remained to be seen whether manager Charlie Manuel would use him. Manuel is juggling a lineup with several banged-up players. He hopes to have his regular lineup together for the final five or six games of the season. Manuel said that Ryan Howard, out with a sore left ankle, was progressing and could play Friday at New York. Howard had an injection of anti-inflammatory medicine on Monday.
Rotation coming into focus
The Phillies have set part of their pitching rotation for this weekends series against the Mets in New York.
MLB
As expected, Cole Hamels will pitch Friday night against R.A. Dickey.
The Phillies have not named a starter for Saturday. That would have been Roy Halladays scheduled day to pitch. However, the Phillies will give Halladay an extra day of rest and he will start on Sunday in New York.
Halladay is projected to start Game 1 of the playoffs on Oct. 1, though the Phils have not made that official. If Halladay starts Game 1, as expected, he will have an extra day of rest before his next two starts.
It appears as if the Phillies will use their bullpen to get through Saturday's game. Kyle Kendrick will likely get some work out in relief in that game.
The Phils open a series at Atlanta on Monday. It is likely that Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt and Hamels will start those games with Vance Worley seeing some time in relief. The Phils plan to use him in the bullpen in the postseason. Worley started Wednesday night. That will likely be his last start.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com