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The Phillies will be without their starting second baseman for their home opener this afternoon because he has been sent home due to having the flu. See:
Chase Utley has the flu.
— Matt Gelb (@magelb) April 8, 2014
I blame Dom Brown and Justin De Fratus, both of whom missed time due to the flu a week or so ago. They've infected Chase.
As long as it's not a knee-flu, which isn't a thing that exists, there's not much to worry about here, other than the lineup missing its most productive contributor to date. Did you know that Utley leads the NL in slugging and OPS, and currently sports a .458/.536/.833 slash-line? Now you do. He's pretty good, that Utley fella. Did you also know that he slashed .217/.242/.267 in spring training causing some people to worry about him? I send a hearty "ha-ha!" to those people.
C. Hern'dez will be taking Utley's place at second and Carlos Ruiz has been moved into Chase's 3rd spot in the batting order. This is the rest of the lineup, complete with squiggly "Z"s.
Today's 4:05 #PhilsHomeOpener lineup vs. #Brewers. Kendrick vs. Lohse. NBC10/94WIP/1210WPHT. pic.twitter.com/HdNQ0Z7Jfx
— Phillies (@Phillies) April 8, 2014
Much to Liz's delight, Kyle Kendrick takes the mound for the Phils today, with the starting pitch scheduled for 4:05.
Go Phillies, Boo Sausage Race Team!