The second-place Phillies have a chance to make up major ground in the NL East race when they host the New York Mets in a four-game series starting tonight. And they'll have one of their best hitters back in the lineup to help their cause.
Lo Duca
Utley
Second baseman Chase Utley, out since July 26 with a broken bone in his right hand, is expected to return from the disabled list for tonight's game against the Mets, who lead the Phillies by six games.
The Mets will get a key reinforcement themselves, as starting catcher Paul Lo Duca is expected back in the lineup after being disabled with a right hamstring injury. New York has been without Lo Duca and backup Ramon Castro for the past two weeks.
Utley was injured when he was hit by a pitch from Washington's John Lannan in the fifth inning of a 7-6 loss on July 26. Utley stayed in the game, going 2-for-4 with an RBI, but had surgery the next day to put a pin in the fourth metacarpal of his right hand. He was replaced in the lineup by Tadahito Iguchi, who was acquired from the Chicago White Sox shortly after Utley went down.
Iguchi has a .301 average with two homers in 27 games since joining the Phillies, but he can't match Utley's offensive production. Utley is batting .336 with 17 homers and 82 RBIs this season.
Lo Duca hurt his hamstring earlier this month and missed six games. He aggravated the injury Aug. 11 against the Marlins and was put on the DL.
Lo Duca is batting .257 with five home runs and 32 RBIs but some of his most important contributions come as a clubhouse leader and a steady presence behind the plate.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Source: ESPN.com
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