Phillies Notes: Rollins sits again with groin injury

For the second straight game, Jimmy Rollins was not in the Phillies' starting lineup Tuesday night against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Manager Ryne Sandberg said Rollins needed another day off to rest a groin injury. The shortstop was hurt Sunday in a 1-0 win over the Washington Nationals.

"Jimmy still has some sensation in his upper leg area so he needs another day," Sandberg said before the game.

Rollins pinch-hit Tuesday vs. the Blue Jays, grounding out to first in the ninth inning. He popped out in a pinch-hit appearance Monday.

The Phillies and Blue Jays will play the next two games in Toronto. Sandberg was asked whether Rollins would be able to play on the artificial turf at the Rogers Centre.

"It is a day-to-day thing," Sandberg said.

Rollins has been effective in the early going. He entered the game with a .345 on-base percentage. The last time he finished a season with a higher OBP was 2008, when it was a career-high .349.

Marlon Byrd entered Tuesday batting .296 with four home runs, 22 RBIs, and an .809 on-base-plus- slugging percentage.

Byrd overcame a difficult start, and although he isn't satisfied, he acknowledged that there has been progress.

"The first 30 games have been OK," Byrd said before the game. "Since the last game in Los Angeles, it has gotten better."

The statistics bear that out. Since a 7-3 win over the Dodgers on April 24, Byrd was hitting .429 with two home runs, 10 RBIs, and a 1.202 OPS in nine games entering Tuesday.

"If I was young, I probably would have panicked a little, which I did back in the day," Byrd said. "Now I know I can play the game and what I have to do and what it takes."

Byrd also has helped upgrade the Phillies' outfield defense.

"He is better than I expected in the outfield," Sandberg said.

Sandberg pointed out that Byrd positions himself well, reads balls off the bat with aplomb, and also has shown an accurate arm.

The Phillies will use the designated hitter in their two-game series in Toronto. Sandberg said he would finalize his plan after Tuesday's game.

The Phillies will face two contrasting pitchers, veteran lefthander Mark Buehrle on Wednesday and righthanded knuckleballer R.A. Dickey on Thursday.