Mackanin cautious with Kendrick's injury
PHILADELPHIA -- Howie Kendrick might spend a little more than 10 days on the disabled list.
He landed on the 10-day DL on Tuesday with a strained right abdomen. It is retroactive to Sunday, meaning he could be activated as early as next Wednesday, but Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said that Kendrick's return is "still up in the air about how long it's going to take."
Kendrick had an MRI exam this week. Mackanin looked at the report -- after pulling it out of the trash can -- and said it is a Grade 1 strain of the oblique.
"Maybe two weeks," Mackanin said. "It's day to day, but obliques are precarious. Even when you feel good, one little twitch can reactivate it."
Right-hander Mark Leiter Jr. took Kendrick's place on the 25-man roster, but Mackanin said the team has been discussing adding another bench player if Kendrick's injury lingers. The Phillies currently have only four bench players.
Neshek returns, Lively optioned
Right-hander Pat Neshek returned from paternity leave Friday. Right-hander Ben Lively was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Todd Zolecki has covered the Phillies since 2003, and for MLB.com since 2009. Follow him on Twitter and <ahref="https: www.facebook.com/toddzoleckimlb/"="">Facebook** and listen to his podcast.</ahref="https:>