Phillies (46-70) at Brewers (49-68)
7:10 p.m. on NBC 10
After dropping the series opener, 3-1, Friday night, the Phillies continue a three-game series with the Brewers in Milwaukee.
Here are five things you need to know:
1. Utley still here … for now
All eyes are on Chase Utley, as the veteran second baseman appears ready to move on from the Phillies.
Utley has been the subject of trade rumors, and as many as six teams are in the mix for the 36-year-old CSNPhilly.com's Phillies Insider Jim Salisbury reported Friday night.
In Friday's loss, Utley went 4 for 5 with three singles, a double and an RBI batting leadoff. Since returning from the disabled list Aug. 7, he's 11 for 22 with four doubles and four RBIs.
When he returned from the DL, Utley's average was .179 but is now above the Mendoza line at .208. He has four homers and 29 RBIs in 71 games this year.
MLB
It'll be interesting to see if interim manager Pete Mackanin keeps Utley in the lineup Saturday night and it might depend on Maikel Franco's wrist.
If the rookie third baseman can't play because of a wrist contusion, then Mackanin likely will use the same infield as Friday with Ryan Howard at first, Utley at second, Freddy Galvis at shortstop and Cesar Hernandez manning third.
2. Keep it going
One of the main reasons the Phillies have been an entertaining team to watch after the All-Star break is Odubel Herrera.
Herrera has at least one hit in 29 of his last 33 games, and saw a 13-game hit streak snapped on Tuesday.
On Friday, the centerfielder was 1 for 3 with a walk. He's hitting .286 with six home runs and 32 RBIs on the season.
Since the Phillies traded Ben Revere to Toronto on July 31, Herrera is 18 for 55 with 10 runs scored, six RBIs and two stolen bases.
While the Phillies are 1-3 this week and have been outscored, 35-11, Herrera's development is one to pay attention to for the rest of the season.
A converted infielder, Herrera is still learning the ins and outs of center field and despite a collision with Domonic Brown Friday night, Mackanin said he likes the 23-year-old in center.
"Maybe he needs to be a little more vocal," Mackanin said (see story). "He's definitely aggressive, but maybe more vocal, and then the corner guys have got to peel off and get out of the way. That kind of thing happens. Freddy (Galvis) made a nice throw to the plate; I guess he snuck his foot in. It was a nice relay. Obviously, if they didn't collide he wouldn't have scored."
3. Continue to build
Coming off his strongest start of the season, Jerome Williams will look to build off his last two outings against the Brewers.
Williams surrendered one run on five hits in a season-best seven innings last Sunday in a 5-3 win in San Diego. It was the third time this season he's allowed under three runs in a start. In each of his last two outings, he's allowed one run.
The right-hander has struggled this season. He's pitched past the fifth inning seven times in 18 starts, and has served up 18 home runs.
In his first full season with the Phillies, the 33-year-old is 4-8 with a 5.73 ERA. Against the Brewers in his career, Williams is 2-2 with a 5.40 ERA in five starts.
4. Scouting Nelson
The Phillies face 26-year-old right-hander Jimmy Nelson, who figures to be part of Milwaukee's future.
Nelson is 9-9 and owns a 3.65 ERA in 23 starts this season with the Brewers. In his last nine outings, the 6-foot-6, 243-pound pitcher is 6-1 to go with a 2.26 ERA.
At Miller Park this year, the right-hander is 4-3 with a 3.38 ERA but has a 2.06 ERA and is 3-0 in his last five home starts.
He has faced the Phillies once in his career — June 29th in Philadelphia. Nelson allowed four runs on six hits over five innings in Milwaukee's 7-4 win at Citizens Bank Park.
Nelson's repertoire includes a fastball, sinker, curveball, slider and a changeup, which he rarely mixes into the mix.
5. This and that
• In his last seven games, leftfielder Cody Asche is hitting .370 with one home run and five doubles. In 12 career games against the Brewers, he's hitting .341 and is 7 for 20 at Miller Park.
• The Phillies will attempt to win their first game against the Brewers this season. Milwaukee is 5-0 and is averaging 6.2 against the Phils in 2015.
• Since the start of last season, Milwaukee's Ryan Braun is hitting .409 with 14 RBIs in 10 games against the Phillies.