A couple of Phillies are on the mend and nearing a return to the field.
Domonic Brown, sidelined by an Achilles strain, will play five innings for Clearwater Friday for the second straight night. Manager Ryne Sandberg said prior to Friday’s game that Brown would be on a two- or three-week rehab program that will eventually take him north to the upper levels of the Phils' minor-league system.
Starting pitcher Chad Billingsley will pitch tonight for Triple A Lehigh Valley. He’ll be on a limit of about four innings and 60 pitches.
As for opening day centerfielder Odubel Herrera, he’s good to go after fouling a ball off his foot in his first major-league game. He is out of Friday’s lineup but available off the bench.
Sandberg is looking for a useful outfield mix with Brown on the DL. Phillies outfielders went 4 for 35 (.114) with one extra-base hit (Jeff Francouer’s home run) in the opening series vs. Boston.
Ben Revere is back in center Friday night, with Francouer in right field and Grady Sizemore in left. The left-handed hitting Sizemore is 7 for 14 (.500) lifetime off Friday’s opponent, lefty Gio Gonzalez.