Pete Mackanin is switching things up at the top of the Phillies' batting order for Sunday's game against the San Diego Padres.
Slumping infielder Cesar Hernandez, who is batting just .225 with five RBIs and 12 runs scored in August, will bat second in the series finale and Odubel Herrera will lead off for the Phils as they try for a three-game sweep of the Padres.
Hernandez, who will shift back to second base after playing third on Saturday night, has gone just 5 for 44 (.113) at the plate over his last 10 games. He has just one RBI over that span, as well.
Elsewhere in the lineup, Andres Blanco returns to the hot corner. He did not start in the Phils' 4-3 win Saturday but did enter the game as a defensive replacement in the ninth inning. The veteran is batting .302 with five home runs and 16 RBIs in 78 games this season.
Alec Asher, who was acquired in the Cole Hamels trade, will make his major-league debut for the Phillies (see story). The right-hander went 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA over his last three starts at Triple A Lehigh Valley.
James Shields takes the hill for San Diego. He's 0-4 with a 5.63 ERA in eight road starts since beating the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 24.
Here is the full lineup:
MLB
1. Odubel Herrera, CF
2. Cesar Hernandez, 2B
3. Aaron Altherr, RF
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Andres Blanco, 3B
6. Cody Asche, LF
7. Cameron Rupp, C
8. Freddy Galvis, SS
9. Alec Asher, P