Phils place Bruce (oblique) on IL, recall Williams
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PHILADELPHIA -- Phillies left fielder Jay Bruce has a sprained right intercostal muscle, which means he pulled a muscle in his rib cage. The team placed him on the 10-day injured list Wednesday, but he is optimistic he will not miss much more time than that.
“It could be 10, it could be 15, I'm not sure,” Bruce said. “But it's not nearly as bad as an oblique could be, so that's a positive. … I think it's more on the mild side, the shorter side of the timetable, fortunately.”
The Phillies recalled outfielder Nick Williams from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to take his place on the roster. Williams batted .345 with six home runs, 16 RBIs, a .403 on-base percentage and a .628 slugging percentage with the IronPigs. This is Williams’ fourth time with the Phillies. He opened the season with the team, but he was optioned May 19, June 3 and June 17.
“I just wasn’t putting any pressure on myself,” Williams said about his success in Triple-A. “I allowed myself to just play and not worry about the next day or the next day. It was an in-the-moment type thing. I was playing a lot, so I was able to find myself at the plate. … The last time I got optioned it took me a little bit when I was at home. I was just reading and reading. I was able to really clear my mind and just take the time to say, 'When I go down here, I’m going to do the best I can in all aspects of the game and just try to feel like myself again.' The few times I was up here, I just felt out of place mentally.”
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Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said rookie Adam Haseley is likely to see the majority of playing time while Bruce is on the IL, although Williams started in left field Wednesday night against the Dodgers. Haseley started in center field.
“I wouldn’t say it’s one over the other, but I would say I’m committed to getting Adam Haseley reps,” Kapler said. “Nick is in a position to earn reps, and we have a much better idea of Nick Williams and who he is in a similar way to a lot of the players because we’ve had longer looks with them than we have with Adam, who we don’t know yet and want to find out by giving him opportunities. We’re looking to do that with Adam.”
Extra bases
• Jean Segura did not start for the second consecutive game because of a bruised heel. Kapler said it is precautionary.
• Maikel Franco did not start for the second consecutive game. He was benched Tuesday for not hustling on a play Monday night. Kapler said Franco did not start Wednesday because Dodgers right-hander Kenta Maeda is tough against right-handed hitters.