Kyle

Kendrick

Cliff Lee will be saved for the nightcap. Kendrick could get another spot start or two if the Phillies want to give their starters some extra rest entering the postseason.

The start will instead go to Kyle Kendrick or Joe Blanton. Hamels said Saturday that he hoped to make the start and throw 75-80 even though he’d only be on three days’ rest. The Phillies will likely allow him to pitch in order to stay sharp, but he’s not going to throw that many pitches. Hamels is slated to start Game 3 of the NLDS and will be doing so on six days’ rest if he indeed appears Wednesday.

Kendrick struck out seven and walked one, faring much better in his second start of the season than he did in the first. His biggest mistake came in the fourth, where he served up a solo bomb to Joe Mather. With Cliff Lee (oblique) progressing as scheduled, Kendrick may not get to make another start.

Blanton gave up five hits while fanning three and walking none. The 31-year-old right-hander has a 2.70 ERA and 8/1 K/BB ratio over 10 innings during Grapefruit League play and appears to be healthy after missing most of the 2011 season due to an elbow injury. The Phillies are reportedly shopping him with the idea of either sliding Kyle Kendrick into the rotation or possibly making a play to bring back Roy Oswalt.

We’ve heard plenty of trade chatter in regard to Blanton this month, but Knobler hears that Phils are less inclined to move him after releasing non-roster invitee Joel Pineiro. Kyle Kendrick looms as an in-house alternative and the Phillies could possibly make a run at Roy Oswalt, so they do have some options. Then again, Blanton has looked pretty good so far this spring, so they may be content to keep him around.

Kendrick had a 3.14 ERA in his 15 starts for the Phillies last year, but he didn’t have it working in place of Cliff Lee tonight. The hope is that he’ll only need to make one more start before Lee gets back.

The Phils avoided arbitration with Kendrick by inking him to a one-year, $3.585 million deal last month, and they’ve tacked on another year, buying out his final year of arbitration eligibility. Kendrick is coming off a nice year, as he posted a 3.22 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 114 2/3 innings. $7.5 million over two years is a lot to give a swingman, but Kendrick does give the Phils some valuable versatility.

The Phillies said Kendrick could toss an inning Sunday night if needed. He pitched very well in his last start, out-dueling Stephen Strasburg on Friday, allowing just one run on seven hits over five innings of work. The 27-year-old righty can again be avoided in fantasy leagues.

Kendrick gets the call to fill in for left-handed ace Cliff Lee, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday because of a left oblique strain. The 27-year-old righty can be avoided in fantasy leagues.

Lee made it through a bullpen session Saturday without any issues and will rejoin the Phillies in New York next week. The 33-year-old has been on the disabled list since April 19 with a strained left oblique. Kyle Kendrick, who had been filling in, is expected to return to the bullpen.