A closer look at the Phillies lineup

What we know: Everything, and nothing all at once. The Phillies return seven starters from their postseason roster: Jimmy Rollins, Placido Polanco, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Hunter Pence, Shane Victorino and Carlos Ruiz. Howard, of course, will be sidelined for at least the first month and likely the first 2. After that, it all depends on how his rehabilitation from Achilles' tendon surgery progresses. For the season, they finished seventh in the National League in scoring with an average of 4.40 runs per game, although they played most of the first 4 months without Pence and most of the first 2 months without Utley. The Phillies scored more runs than any other NL team over their last 81 games. Then again, most of that was with Howard in the lineup.

What to watch: As much as they will downplay the significance of spring performance, the Phillies will be keeping a close eye on John Mayberry Jr. as he prepares for a season that he figures to start as the team's top option in leftfield. The Phillies signed lefthanded hitter Laynce Nix to improve depth, but Mayberry has first dibs on the position. Otherwise, the biggest intrigue will surround some of the younger players, particularly outfielder Domonic Brown and shortstop Freddy Galvis. They represent the club's only minor league hitters who are close to being able to contribute at the big-league level. Brown struggled early last spring after the Phillies tinkered with his swing, then missed the rest of camp after breaking his right hand. Galvis is almost certainly headed to the minors, where last season was the first in which he saw success at the plate. Brown, on the other hand, will be tough to ignore if he excels in Grapefruit League play, particularly if the Phillies develop any hesitancy about Mayberry's capabilities as an everyday player.

Other issues: Last spring, Chase Utley dominated the headlines as the Phillies shut him down with knee tendinitis and bone bruising. The second baseman returned in late May and played regularly the rest of the way, but his numbers were down from his usual production. Expect the Phillies to get Utley rest whenever possible. The last thing the team needs is for its most polished all-around hitter to suffer another injury that sidelines him for a significant stretch.

Other players in camp: The two biggest names are Juan Pierre and Scott Podsednik, former leadoff-hitting outfielders who are on the downsides of their careers. Pierre, 34, enters camp with a good shot at winning a battle for a spot on the bench — there figures to be at least one open with Howard on the disabled list. Pierre has been a regular player since breaking into the big leagues with the Rockies in 2000, but his contact and on-base numbers have dipped over the last two seasons, when he started for the White Sox. Last season, he hit .279/.329/.327 in 711 plate appearances. He also stole 27 bases but was thrown out 17 times. Podsednik, who turns 36 next month, is just a year removed from a campaign in which he hit .297/.342/.382 with 35 steals for the Royals and Dodgers, but he battled foot injuries and did not get an at-bat in the majors last season. Health is the big question mark for him.