After a flying start to the season, Aaron Altherr's hot bat has cooled quite a bit. The 26-year-old is hitting just .176 (3 for 17) in the Phils' last five games and he's the most notable absence in tonight's lineup for the Phillies as they play game no. 3 of a four-game set vs. the Pirates.
Taking Altherr out of the lineup means that Nick Williams will slide back to his natural position in right field — after starting his MLB career with a four-game hit streak, Williams failed to get a hit Tuesday as his average dropped to .278. Still, he's played every possible inning in the field and recorded his first extra-base hit yesterday. He'll bat fifth behind Maikel Franco and Tommy Joseph.
It's been a revolving door in the leadoff spot with Cesár Hernandez still on the disabled list and Odúbel Herrera's scuffling at the plate. Daniel Nava gets the nod in the top spot tonight — he'll play left field — and Herrera will bat seventh. Hernandez hit in the batting cage Monday, but his return to the 25-man roster is still up in the air.
Ben Lively is on the hill tonight looking to snap his two-game losing streak. The righty hasn't won a game since June 3 against San Francisco but also has gotten little run support. In six starts, he has a 3.72 ERA but the Phillies have scored more than three runs just once (June 18 vs. Arizona) when Lively's been the starting pitcher.
Here's the full lineup for tonight's 7:05 start at Citizens Bank Park:
1. Daniel Nava, LF
2. Freddy Galvis, SS
3. Maikel Franco, 3B
4. Tommy Joseph, 1B
5. Nick Williams, RF
6. Andrés Blanco, 2B
7. Odúbel Herrera, CF
8. Andrew Knapp, C
9. Ben Lively, P