WASHINGTON — If you’re looking at tonight’s lineup for the Phillies in Washington, there will be a handful of unfamiliar names.
Kevin Frandsen has been hitting well in his short time up with the Phillies while Erik Kratz is in tonight’s lineup to spell Carlos Ruiz.
Then there is the outfield.
Domonic Brown is making his first start of the 2012 season after getting a pinch-hit single last night. Nate Schierholtz, who was a part of the deal that sent Hunter Pence to the Giants, will make his Phillies debut tonight in right field.
Brown will bat in the six-spot behind John Mayberry and Schierholtz will bat second between Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley.
The rest of the lineup looks normal.
So what will this new lineup do for the Phillies? Schierholtz and Brown are the names that stand out the most. Both want to be a part of a revamped Phillies outfield next season.
Brown already has a spot locked up according to general manager Ruben Amaro, but Schierholtz, who is 28, will be a free agent at the end of the season. If the Phillies are happy with his production in the last two months he could be a cheap option for right field next year.
This season, Schierholtz is hitting .257 with five homers and 17 RBIs in 70 games for San Francisco. In six years with the Giants, Schierholtz averaged .270 with seven homers and 38 RBIs.
Schierholtz is hoping to get a chance to play more than in short spurts in Philadelphia.
“I just felt like I had a short leash,” Schierholtz said about the playing time he got from Giants manager Bruce Bochy. “It was series by series, if I didn’t perform for three games, that was my chance. It got frustrating at times. We didn’t see eye to eye.”
Schierholtz has played nine games in Philadelphia, hitting .241 at Citizens Bank Park with two home runs and four RBIs. It’s indeed a small sample size, so take it for what it’s worth.
Will Schierholtz be an impact player for the Phillies remains to be seen in the last two months. Their playoff hopes are pretty much shattered, so they can use the next two months to evaluate the players they have going into the off season to see what parts need to be bought to retool and be competitive next season.
Tonight’s lineup in Washington vs Edwin Jackson (6-6, 3.52)
Rollins SS
Schierholtz RF
Utley 2B
Howard 1B
Mayberry CF
Brown LF
Frandsen 3B
Kratz C
Worley SP
TTB 