Phillies hoping rookie third baseman Franco returns to lineup Tuesday
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}NEW YORK, NY - MAY 26: Maikel Franco #7 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits an RBI single, scoring the go-ahead run in the eighth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on May 26, 2015 in Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
The Philadelphia Phillies hope to have rookie third baseman Maikel Franco back in the lineup Tuesday night when they return home to open a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Franco has been sidelined for the past four games with a bruised left wrist, the result of being hit by a pitch in the first inning of Tuesday's game versus the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Philadelphia manager Pete Mackanin said Franco will take batting practice Tuesday to determine his availability. Franco is batting .277 with 13 home runs and 48 RBI in 77 games he was called up from the minors in mid-May.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Franco's absence from the lineup has had a noticeable impact. The Phillies were 17-7 since the All-Star break entering this past weekend's three-game series at the Milwaukee Brewers but were swept while scoring a total of four runs.
(h/t Philly.com)