Phillies manager Charlie Manuel is starting first baseman Ryan Howard in Friday's game against the Braves with a left-hander on the mound and does not consider Howard a platoon player, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
"I don't look at Ryan Howard as a platoon player yet," Manuel told the Inquirer Friday. "I think he can still hit and still get going. His knee does bother him. If we're going to rest him against somebody, it should be against a lefty. But at the same time, it doesn't mean he is a platoon player yet."
Howard has hit .169/.217/.286 in 77 at-bats against left-handers.