Phillies' Utley, Howard both off to rough starts in 2015
Through the Phillies' first seven games, veterans Chase Utley and Ryan Howard are a combined 6 for 43 with no home runs and four RBI.
"It sucks," Howard said of their coinciding slumps, per The Philadelphia Daily News. "Yeah, it sucks. Obviously, we want to get off to a better start. We're what, six or seven games in? It's definitely going to turn around. Nobody plans on trying to get off to a slow start.
"The only thing we can do is keep grinding and keep swinging, try to put together good at-bats. We've had opportunities, you just have to come through in other situations."
This is the worst start of Utley's career, while it is the second worst of Howard's. Utley is 2 for 22 with six strikeouts, two walks and no extra-base hits, while Howard is 4 for 24 with three doubles, eight strikeouts and no walks. In 2013, Howard began the season mired in a 4-for-27 slump.
"It's just a matter of time with Chase," manager Ryne Sandberg said. "I have no worries there. He gets quality at-bats. And no worries there. Chase will be fine. We just need to create some opportunities with men on base for those guys in the middle of the lineup."
