Phillies' Maikel Franco to rest sore elbow, but likely to avoid DL

MAIKEL FRANCO might not return to the Phillies' lineup until they arrive at Wrigley Field on Friday, but at least he isn't destined for the disabled list.

A night removed from exiting a game against the Tampa Bay Rays with right elbow soreness, Franco limited his pregame activity yesterday to shagging balls in the outfield during batting practice. Before he took the field, Franco said he felt better and was eager to return to the lineup today, when the Phillies wrap up their homestand with a matinee against Tampa at Citizens Bank Park.

But unless manager Pete Mackanin flirts with the idea of putting Franco at first base, where there would likely be less strain on his arm, it's probably more likely that Franco sits again, but is available in a pinch-hitting role. The Phillies are off tomorrow, meaning resting him again this afternoon would give the rookie third baseman three straight days to rest his throwing elbow.

Mackanin said that's "probably" his game plan for Franco.

"I've been thinking about doing that; it gives him, with the day off, plenty of time," Mackanin said.

Andres Blanco started at third base last night. He could return there again today - Mackanin said he had already planned on getting the veteran utility infielder a few starts this week to keep his bat sharp. Cody Asche is not a candidate to start at third base, at least not this year - the Phillies want to continue to get him comfortable at his new spot in leftfield.

Franco said he's never experienced soreness in his right elbow before. He had it examined by the team medical staff upon arrival to the ballpark yesterday, but the pain apparently wasn't serious enough to warrant an MRI.

"[It's] getting better," Franco said. "Today when I came in I felt my arm and [it's] better. I just go to the training room right away and Scott [Sheridan, the head athletic trainer] told me it's getting better, too."

Last night marked the first time in 60 games since joining the team in mid-May that Franco was out of the starting lineup.

Franco, who turns 23 next month, is hitting .283 with an .818 OPS, 10 home runs and 35 RBI in 59 games. Among major league rookies with at least 200 at-bats, Franco ranks fourth in home runs, RBI and slugging percentage (.481), and sixth in OPS.

Following Adam Morgan in this afternoon's matinee, opposite Tampa righthander Jake Odorizzi, the Phillies are tentatively scheduled to throw Jerome Williams, Cole Hamels and Aaron Nola, respectively, in their three-game series at Wrigley Field in Chicago this weekend.

Williams' start on Friday will be his first since suffering a hamstring injury in the first inning of the team's ugly, 19-3 loss in Baltimore on June 16. Mackanin was asked why the team effectively replaced David Buchanan with Williams; Buchanan earned his first victory since August on Monday night, before being optioned to Triple A Lehigh Valley after the game.

"Well, we want to keep Buchanan on his program," Mackanin explained. "We don't - I guess we could have kept him in the bullpen, but we want to make sure - he's pitched so well in his last two outings, we want to keep him on track for every fifth day. It's best for us and best for him."

Buchanan, 26, is 1-5 with a 7.00 ERA in seven starts this season, but he has a 3.18 ERA in two starts with the big-league team following a two-month stay in the minor leagues (and on the minor league disabled list with an ankle injury). Williams, 33, has a 6.43 ERA in 14 starts.

Of the two, Buchanan is far more likely to be part of the team's plans in 2016. But since the Phillies don't need a fifth starter until after the July 31 trade deadline, when another one of their starters (Cole Hamels) could be on the move, Buchanan could easily jump back into the big-league rotation within the next two weeks (or sooner).

Jonathan Papelbon's save on Monday night, his 16th in 16 save attempts this season, was the 341st of his career, moving him into a tie for 12th place on MLB's all-time save list with Hall of Famer Rollie Fingers . . . Chase Utley was announced by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association as the Phillies' winner of the 2015 Heart and Hustle Award, the only award voted on by former players. It is given to a player who demonstrates "a passion for the game of baseball and best embody the values, spirit and tradition of the game." The MLBPAA will announce an overall winner from the 30 finalists near the end of the season. Roy Halladay (2010) was the last Phillies player to win that honor . . . The Phillies' 4-0 start since the All-Star break was the first time they'd won four in a row to begin the second half since 2009, when they won five straight.

Blog: ph.ly/HighCheese