The Phillies are calling Utley's injury, suffered while sliding headfirst into second base on Monday night at Cincinnati, a sprain, although they have not provided any hint as to how severe it could be. A high-grade sprain could require surgery, which in the past has sidelined position players for anywhere from 6 to 10 weeks.
Polanco's future is also unclear. As recently as Monday, the Phillies were hoping that he would be back on the field this week. But a second cortisone shot into his sore elbow - which contains a pre-existing bone-chip spur that might have been aggravated when he was hit with a pitch in Atlanta in late April - did not provide the desired effect. Like Utley, the Phillies are waiting for today's evaluation before providing even a rough timetable for either player.
Both players have been placed on the 15-day disabled list.
Happ update
Despite throwing 100 pitches in the fifth start of a rehab assignment that, according to major league rules, must end next Wednesday, lefty J.A. Happ is not expected to be activated in the near future. He is scheduled to meet the Phillies in Pittsburgh this weekend, at which point he will throw a bullpen session and wait for his next move - likely another rehab start on Sunday or Monday.
If the Phillies still aren't satisfied with Happ's progress, he could find himself in limbo. Although Happ, who went on the DL with an elbow strain after his second start of the season, says he feels healthy, he allowed 10 of the 22 hitters he faced to reach base Tuesday night. Those who have seen him pitch say he still needs to develop more consistency with his entire repertoire.
League rules allow 30 days for a rehab assignment to prevent teams from stashing out-of-options players on the DL. The Phillies have the ability to file for an extension, but they also could activate Happ and option him to Lehigh Valley.
Sardinha's smash
