Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Posted: 7:15 p.m.
By Jim Salisbury
CSNPhilly.com
WASHINGTONKyle Kendrick will be the Phillies starting pitcher Saturday night at Pittsburgh, pitching coach Rich Dubee said on Tuesday afternoon.
Kendrick will take the place of Vance Worley, who was sent back to Triple A Lehigh Valley to build arm strength on Monday. Worley is scheduled to pitch Saturday for the IronPigs.
Worley was replaced on the active roster by lefty reliever Mike Zagurski.
There had been some speculation that the Phillies, who have an off day Thursday, might skip their fifth starter this time through the rotation, but Dubee is firmly against that. He sees great value in giving his starters an extra day of rest when the schedule provides one. The Phillies will finish a stretch of 20 games in 20 days on Wednesday, and a run like that can tax a staff. Roy Halladay leads the majors in innings (91 13) and pitches thrown (1,380) so he can always benefit from an extra day. Halladay threw 111 pitches Monday and is scheduled to return to the mound Sunday afternoon in Pittsburgh.
Kendrick has been used primarily in relief this season. He has made two starts. On May 7, he pitched five shutout innings against Atlanta. On May 19, he made an emergency start against Colorado after Joe Blanton felt pain in his elbow during warmups. Kendrick allowed five runs in three innings in that start.
MLB
Tough decision coming
Shane Victorino is expected to be activated from the disabled list on Friday. The Phillies have a tough call on how to make room for him on the 25-man roster.
Dubee is against scaling back from 12 to 11 pitchers and his word carries weight with the front office.
The Phils have several other options:
They could place Ross Gload on the disabled list so he can receive treatment on his ailing hip. They could send John Mayberry Jr. or Ben Francisco to Triple A. Both have minor-league options. Domonic Brown also has a minor-league option, but the team has made it clear it wants to keep him around.
The Phils seem committed to hanging on to Rule 5 pick Michael Martinez because they like the infield depth he provides. With second baseman Chase Utley requiring occasional time off to rest his right knee, the Phils believe infield depth is valuable.
Email Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com
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