Phillies Notes: Hollands leaning toward season-ending arm surgery

DUNEDIN, Fla. - Mario Hollands is leaning toward having surgery on his left arm, which would likely end the relief pitcher's season.

Hollands returned to Philadelphia last weekend to see Michael Ciccotti, the team's doctor. Ciccotti recommended three options for his strained common flexor tendon: surgery, an injection of platelet-rich plasma, or rest. Hollands will visit orthopedic surgeon James Andrews in Alabama this week.

"I wanted to help the team this year, I wanted to play," said Hollands, 26. "So that's still in my head because I want to play so bad."

Hollands said this injury feels the same as the one that caused him to miss the final month of last season. Everything felt fine this spring until he threw the final pitch of his fifth outing. Hollands pitched 50 games last season as a rookie and finished with a 4.40 ERA in 47 innings.

Chad Billingsley said he plans to stay in Florida after the team breaks camp next week. The 30-year-old righthander threw two scoreless innings Thursday in a minor-league game. It was his second outing of the spring as he works his way back from a pair of elbow surgeries. He is expected to join the starting rotation in mid-April or early May.

"I let some balls go today, really getting after it. And each time out there just gaining confidence in my arm and trusting it and not really worrying about it," Billingsley said. "Getting it out of my mind. I mean, going through two surgeries the last two years, starting to trust it, and it's responded well and I'm happy."

Cody Asche was scratched from the lineup after feeling tightness in his back during the team's morning stretch at Bright House Field. Asche has hit three home runs since last Thursday. He was replaced by Andres Blanco, who batted ninth.

"I don't expect him to miss much," manager Ryne Sandberg said. "He had a muscle in his back that kind of grabbed him a little."

The Phillies acquired shortstop Devin Lohman from Cincinnati for future considerations. Lohman, 25, was drafted in the third round in 2010. He spent the last two years at double A and hit .245 last season. . . . Cesar Hernandez started at shortstop for the first time this spring. Sandberg said he wants to "create versatility with him there and make him more valuable to the team."

- Matt Breen