Phillies' Howard to play in Clearwater

MIAMI - Ryan Howard "had a couple of at-bats" in a simulated game yesterday in Clearwater, Fla., where rain washed out the first string of games in instructional league play, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said.

Howard, who has been sidelined since July following left knee surgery, is expected to begin playing in games in Clearwater this week. Ben Revere, who also has been out since July, will follow the same plan.

Recent Cuban free agent signee Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez is also in Clearwater, but he isn't likely to take part in the 3-week instructional league schedule.

"He's just starting to throw," Amaro said. "He hadn't thrown in 5 or 6 weeks. He's just starting to toss. He might get off the mound by the end [of the schedule]. Their last game is Oct. 11, I think, so I don't know that he's going to get out there and competitively pitch . . . I would think not."

Gonzalez, who is expected to pitch out of the major league rotation in 2014, agreed to a 3-year, $12 million contract last month.

Kyle Kendrick was placed on the 15-day disabled list yesterday with right shoulder tendinitis.

On the surface, the move seemed unnecessary. Few players are placed on the DL in September since rosters are expanded, and as a result, roster spots rarely have to be opened up to add a player.

But on Sunday, the Phillies have to create a spot on the 40-man roster for Antonio Bastardo. The 50-game suspension Bastardo is serving for his part in the Biogenesis scandal ends on Saturday.

Although he will not be in Atlanta with the team, Bastardo must be activated for the final game of the season. Since Bastardo is not currently on the 40-man roster, the Phils must create a spot for him.

It seems likely the team will transfer Kendrick from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL to open up that spot.

Both Kendrick and Bastardo are arbitration-eligible this winter.

Bastardo, who had an injection to address a knee injury during his absence, is expected to pitch during the offseason in winter ball. He is likely to rejoin the Phillies' bullpen in 2014.

Kendrick, meanwhile, was shut down for the rest of the season after getting a second opinion on his shoulder last week.

"We fully expect him to be fine next year," Amaro said. "He's got some fraying in his rotator, some normal wear and tear on his labrum, but nothing that we're alarmed about."

When asked if the DL move could be used against Kendrick in arbitration - he never had been placed on the DL in his career before - Amaro said he didn't think that would "have much of an effect on the outcome."

Blog: ph.ly/HighCheese