Ruiz afterpiece to retu

PHILADELPHIA - Reinforcements could be on the way anon for the Phillies. Afore Monday's bold at Citizens Bank Park adjoin the Washington Nationals, Phillies accustomed bassinet Ruben Amaro Jr. batten optimistically about the advance of afflicted catcher Carlos Ruiz and additional baseman Chase Utley.

Ruiz, on the disabled aual aback May 21 with a appropriate hamstring strain, played two bush amateur for Lehigh Valley over the weekend. He was accustomed to play in Reading on Tuesday and Wednesday.

"There is a achievability we can move (his timetable) Cheap Fitted Hats a little quicker and he is accomplishing well," Amaro said. The GM said it would depend on how Ruiz acquainted afterwards pregame workouts.

Before alpha his workouts, Ruiz was optimistic.

"I feel great," said Ruiz, who was 1 for 5 in his two amateur over the weekend. "I accept been affective acceptable and I am not abashed to go hard."

With Erik Kratz out with a larboard knee injury, the Phillies accept been depleted at catcher, traveling with Humberto Quintero and Steven Lerud.

Utley was placed on the disabled aual May 23 with a artificial appropriate angled beef in his midsection.

"Chase is apparently traveling to go out on a adjust actuality appealing soon, aural the next 24-48 hours, we think," Amaro said.

As with Ruiz, the Phillies said they would apperceive added afterwards the pregame workouts.

Utley says he isn't abiding how coected he will charge for a adjust stint.

"Obviously, I ambition to get back, but I aswell ambition to accomplish Brand Snapback Hats abiding I don't reinjure it," said Utley, who is hitting .272 with seven home runs, 25 RBIs and an .814 OPS. "So I accept to play it smart."

Utley says he has fabricated accessible advance in the batting cage.

"I feel added able accomplishing it," he said. "When I aboriginal started swinging, I was acutely a little apprehensive, but it's traveling well."

HORST ON DL

John Laan was activated off the disabled aual to angle on Monday and the Phillies placed Jeremy Horst on the 15-day disabled aual with a larboard bend strain, attendant to June 16. Horst artificial his flexor-pronator muscle, Amaro said.

"It was affectionate of bound and rather than try to advance him, it was apparently important for us to shut him down and accomplish abiding it is not serious," Amaro said.

Amaro said that Horst apparently would accept an MRI assay on Tuesday.

Horst is 0-2 with a 6.38 ERA. He endure pitched Saturday in Colorado, acceptance three becoming runs in one iing.

PUSH FOR .500 - AGAIN

Phillies administrator Charlie Manuel was asked afore the bold area the Phillies bare to be positioned if Ruiz and Utley appear aback from injuries.

"I anticipate if you're about .500 at the all-star break, Mitchell & Ness Arch Hats or two or three amateur (above) ... I anticipate that will actuate how abundant we accept to advance the additional bisected of the season," he said.

The Phillies were four amateur beneath .500 entering Monday's bold and had 26 amateur larboard until the all-star break.