Nick Williams' big night on Thursday has him climbing in the Phillies' lineup.
In the 5-4 loss to the Angels, the 23-year-old rookie went 3 for 4 with a two-run homer and two doubles (see story), prompting manager Pete Mackanin to push Williams up from seventh to fifth in the order for Friday's series opener against the Rockies.
Williams is batting .294 with five home runs and 21 RBIs in his first 27 big-league games. With Williams' move up, Odubel Herrera slides down to seventh behind Maikel Franco at sixth.
Herrera is currently riding a seven-game hitting streak, batting .370 with two homers over that span. Meanwhile, Franco went 1 for 12 in the three-game set against the Angels in which the Phillies were swept.
Cameron Rupp is behind the plate, while fellow catcher Andrew Knapp recovers from a bruised throwing hand. The Phillies called up Jorge Alfaro to be the team's second catcher for the time being (see story).
Vince Velasquez takes the Coors Field mound for the Phillies, opposing Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland. For more on tonight's game, read Corey Seidman's game notes here (see story).
Here are the lineups:
MLB
Phillies
1. Cesar Hernandez, 2B
2. Freddy Galvis, SS
3. Aaron Altherr, RF
4. Tommy Joseph, 1B
5. Nick Williams, LF
6. Maikel Franco, 3B
7. Odubel Herrera, CF
8. Cameron Rupp, C
9. Vince Velasquez, P
Rockies
1. Charlie Blackmon, CF
2. DJ LeMahieu, 2B
3. Nolan Arenado, 3B
4. Gerardo Parra, LF
5. Mark Reynolds, 1B
6. Carlos Gonzalez, RF
7. Trevor Story, SS
8. Jonathan Lucroy, C
9. Kyle Freeland, P