Another injury concern: Ruiz' shoulder

NEW YORK - The latest addition to what already is a lengthy Phillies injury report came today, when Carlos Ruiz was replaced by Brian Schneider in the starting lineup after soreness in his shoulder affected his throwing ability in an 8-0 loss to the Mets Tuesday night.

Ruiz said earlier this afternoon he is hopeful to play tomorrow, and that he does not think a trip to the disabled list is in his future. The catcher said he first noticed the problem during a series against Atlanta earlier this month.

Ruiz has thrown out 21 percent of base-stealers this season, down from his career average of 26 percent, although it is difficult to draw many conclusions from that number, since catching base-runners is as much a product of the pitcher on the mound as the catcher behind the plate. But Ruiz's arm was noticably weak on his throws to second last night, when the Mets converted all three of their stolen base attempts.

"I feel it a little bit (when throwing)," said Ruiz, who also has struggled at the plate recently, with two hits in his last 21 at-bats.

But Ruiz also downplayed the severity of the injury.

"I'm OK," he said, adding that he has played with the condition "for a couple of weeks."

Here's the lineup for tonight's game against lefty Hisanori Takahashi:

Shane Victorino CF

Placido Polanco 3B

Chase Utley 2B

Ryan Howard 1B

Jayson Werth RF

Ben Francisco LF

Wilson Valdez SS

Brian Schneider C

Joe Blanton RHP

J.A. Happ is scheduled to throw another bullpen session on Thursday, this one in Clearwater, Fla. The lefty threw 40 pitches at Citizens Bank Park on Monday before the Phillies departed for New York City. He threw some change-ups, his first work with off-speed pitches, but has yet to throw either of his breaking pitches, either off the mound or off flat ground.