The Phillies have activated All-Star 2B Chase Utley from the disabled list.  He is having an outstanding season for the Phillies and he will make their offense even better the last month of the season as the Phillies try to chase down the Mets in the National League East.  Utley has played in 103 games this season for the Phillies and he is 140 for 414 (.338 avg, 1.000 OPS) with 81 runs scored, 18 homers and 85 RBIs.  To make room on the roster for Utley the Phillies have designated Russell Branyan for assignment.  That is a shame because Branyan played in 7 games for the Phillies and he was 2 for 9 (.222 avg, 1.111 OPS) but both of his hits were homers and he drove in 5 runs.  Also, with Utley back it pushes Tadahito Iguchi to the bench despite how well he played for the Phillies while Utley was out.  He has played in 31 games this season for the Phillies and he is 37 for 119 (.311 avg, .822 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 3 homers, 11 RBIs and 6 stolen bases.  If the Phillies were smart they would start Iguchi at third base because he’s a much better baseball player than anyone else they play there.

Pat Burrell looked like he was in a trance in the first half of the season but he has been killing the baseball in the 2nd half.  Burrell has played in 37 games in the second half of the season and he is 43 for 120 (.358 avg, 1.017 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 8 homers and 30 RBIs!  Those 2nd half numbers have spiked his season numbers which don’t look so bad right now.  Burrell has played in 118 games this season now and he is 92 for 348 (.264 avg, .897 OPS) with 51 runs scored, 19 homers and 67 RBIs.

The Phillies have placed #1 starter Cole Hamels on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left elbow.  This happens at the worst possible time for the Phillies as they are locked in a battle to make the playoffs.  Hamels has started 25 games this season and he is 14-5 with a 3.50 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP.  In 167.1 innings this season Hamels has allowed 150 hits, walked 39 batters and whiffed 156.  The Phillies have activated outfielder Shane Victorino from the disabled list to replace Hamels on the roster.  Victorino has played in 106 games this season for the Phillies and he is 116 for 413 (.281 avg, .774 OPS) with 72 runs scored, 11 homers, 42 RBIs and 32 stolen bases.

The Phillies have placed Mike Zagurski (pulled hamstring) and Yoel Hernandez (right shoulder strain) on the 15-day disabled list.  Zagurski has pitched in 25 games this season for the Phillies and he is 1-0 with a 5.91 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP.  Hernandez has worked in 14 games this season and he is 0-0 with a 5.28 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP.  The Phillies have recalled lefty Fabio Castro from AAA to work out of the bullpen.  He was excellent last season as a Rule 5 Pick but he has struggled this season.  In 5 games with the Phillies this season he is 0-0 with a 12.27 ERA.

The Phillies have placed righty starter Adam Eaton on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation.  Eaton has pitched so bad this season that the Phillies are probably glad that he’ll be taking at least a couple of weeks off.  He has started 24 games this season for the Phillies and he is 9-8 with a 6.36 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP.  In 133 innings this season he has allowed 158 hits, 22 homers, walked 57 batters and whiffed 82.  The Phillies will replace him in the rotation with J.D. Durbin and he has pitched surprisingly well for the Phillies this season.  He has pitched in 10 games (4 starts) for the Phillies this year and he is 4-2 with a save, a 4.14 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP.  One of his starts this season was a complete game shutout.  Lefty Mike Zagurski has been recalled from the minors and he will replace Durbin in the Phillies bullpen.  He has pitched in 23 games for the Phillies this season and he is 1-0 with a 4.58 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP.