Jean Segura set to return to Phillies lineup Saturday after missing nearly two weeks with strained hamstring

It has been a challenge, Jean Segura said, to watch a full Phillies game as he sits on the injured list for the first time in two years.

“I can’t watch a whole game,” said Segura, who has been out since April 16 with a strained left hamstring. “I’ll come here, hang around, and watch a couple innings. It’s not normal for me. I’m just frustrated to see our team go down after I got hurt.”

The Phillies entered Friday night’s game with just three wins in the nine games they played without Segura. It’s easy to understand why he struggled to watch more than a few innings as the lineup averaged 2.78 runs per game runs without him. Segura’s watch could soon be over as the Phillies expect to activate him from the injured list on Saturday.

“Everyone knows that we’re not playing well,” Segura said. “I need to be out there to help the team. Our division is going to be tough and a close race so those games are games we need to win.”

The Phillies began the season with a deep lineup that averaged 6.3 runs per game in their first 10 games. They constructed an offense this winter that seemed to give the Phillies a threat in every lineup spot. But they lost Segura, their two-hole hitter, on April 16 and Odubel Herrera, the No. 6 hitter, went down a day later.

The lineup suddenly did not feel as deep as it did in the early stages of the season. And the production showed. Segura is expected to return Saturday and Herrera could return as early as Tuesday. It might become a bit easier again to watch the Phillies.

“Jean can definitely provide a spark for us,” manager Gabe Kapler said. “But it’s not just on his shoulders and we shouldn’t just assume that inserting Jean into the lineup is going to fix every woe that we’ve experienced over the course of the last two weeks. I don’t think that would be reasonable. But I will say that he was a spark at the top of our lineup when he was in there and I have no doubt that he can provide that spark again.”

Nick Williams had to wait 25 games before he finally saw his name in the starting lineup on Friday afternoon. The Phillies moved Andrew McCutchen to center field to make room for Williams, a day after Williams threw a runner out at the plate to keep the game tied in the ninth inning.

“It’s part of staying ready,” Williams said. “It’s hard to come off the bench. Really hard. Especially, confidence-wise. When I heard how bad defense was for me last year, I knew why. It’s because the confidence wasn’t really there. This year, I make sure I work on it every day. Make sure I’m doing something to better myself and just stay positive, man. Working, working and it was able to keep me ready.”

Williams meets most afternoons with outfield coach Paco Figueroa about an hour before the team takes batting practice. All of that practice paid off Thursday night when he fielded a ball for just the third time this year. He has played sparingly in the first part of the season after having a regular role for most of last year. Friday, he finally saw his name in the lineup in Game No. 26.

“I think he’s handled it about as professionally as anyone could have asked him to,” Kapler said. “He’s been a breath of fresh air in that regard. It’s hard to not have a start until near the end of April. That’s a huge challenge, a mental challenge. I think he’s done a great job of tackling it.”

The Phillies traded lefthander James Pazos, who was designated for assignment on Wednesday, to the Rockies for minor-league infielder Hunter Stovall. The 22-year-old Stovall had a .853 OPS in 18 games in single A and was drafted in last year’s 21st round out of Mississippi State...Aaron Altherr entered Friday with just one hit in his first 26 at-bats after going 0-for-2 on Thursday. Gabe Kapler said the Phillies are trying to have Altherr lift the ball in the air more, which is what has helped Maikel Franco get off to a strong start...Jake Arrieta will start Saturday against Marlins righthander Trevor Richards.