PHOENIX – The Phillies were minus a hot bat in their starting lineup for the opener of a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night.
Nick Castellanos, hitting .328 with five homers and 15 RBIs over his last 30 games, was out of the starting lineup with a case of turf toe.
Matt Vierling started in right field in place of Castellanos. Brandon Marsh was in center and Kyle Schwarber in left.
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Manager Rob Thomson said Castellanos had been bothered by the issue for about 10 days and it had not improved.
“He’s been grinding through it,” Thomson said. “We’ll see how it reacts to staying off it.”
Thomson indicated that he could hold Castellanos out of the starting lineup other times during the series.
“We’ll play it day by day,” Thomson said.
MLB
Castellanos is expected to be able to pinch-hit. The issue, at the moment, does not appear to warrant a trip to the injured list.
YES, SER
Closer Seranthony Dominguez is making progress in his recovery from right triceps tendinitis.
Dominguez played catch in the outfield Monday afternoon and said the tendinitis was almost completely gone. He will continue to play catch before working his way back to a bullpen mound. Dominguez will be eligible to return from the injured list on Friday but that will not happen. He could be back within the first two weeks of September, but first would likely require at least one appearance in the minor leagues.
OTHER INJURY MATTERS
Zack Wheeler, out with forearm tendinitis, is still shut down from throwing, but Thomson reports the right-hander, who went on the IL last week, is feeling better and is still on target to return September 6.
Zach Eflin, who has not pitched since June 25 due to right knee soreness, may throw off a bullpen mound on Tuesday, according to Thomson.
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